St. John Handwerker (John J. “Jim” Handwerker)

In the letters

Fellow B-29 airplane commander from Memphis; Austin wrote about the City of Memphis on their field, asked his mother about newspaper clippings, and arranged for Handwerker to carry film/pictures home.

Researched note

Name: John J. “Jim” Handwerker (letters: St. John / Lt. Handwerker)
Branch of Service: U.S. Army Air Forces
Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Activity During WWII: Airplane commander / pilot of B-29A 42-93917 “City of Memphis” (also “Nipp On Ese Nipper”), 19th Bomb Group, 93rd Squadron, Pacific theater.

A Memphis plaque dedicated in 1998 by the B-29 Club of Memphis names John J. “Jim” Handwerker as pilot of the City of Memphis and lists Austin H. Winn among thirteen other pilots associated with the ship—matching Dad’s letters about Handwerker, the City of Memphis on their field, and film Handwerker carried home.

Sources: readtheplaque.com — City of Memphis B-29 plaque; usaaf-noseart.co.uk — B-29A 42-93917, 19th BG / 93rd Sq.