Sgt. Robert K. Sedon

Twelve heavy bomber crew members from PA were Prisoners of War in the Tokyo Military Prison when it was destroyed during an American firebombing raid on May 26, 1945.

Volunteers with the non-profit Stories Behind the Stars (www.storiesbehindthestars.org) have written memorials honoring the twelve Pennsylvania airmen who died in the Tokyo Military Prison fire. One of the fallen was from Warren County: Sgt. Robert K. Sedon.

Robert Kenneth Sedon was born May 31, 1924, in Warren to Leopold August and Hulda Bertha Sedon. Both parents were born in Poland and became naturalized American citizens. Sedon had six brothers (William P, Harold E, Ernest M, Richard W, Delbert and Raymond) and five sisters (Lydia R, Esther O, Helen L, Martha L and Ruth). Sedon’s father supported the household employed as a fireman at the acid works and, later, at an oil refinery. His mother was a homemaker.

On June 30, 1942, Sedon registered for the draft in Warren. He stood over 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed about 143 pounds, and was employed by the United Refining Company in Warren.

Sedon enlisted in the Army Air Forces on September 20, 1943, and served in the 5th Bomb Squad, 9th Bomb Group. On April 15, 1945, he was a radar operator/sergeant on a B-29 heavy bomber, #44-69834. The plane crashed into the Yokohama Souma Girls School yard. Of the twelve-man crew, eight were killed in the crash and four were taken as prisoners of war. Sedon was taken prisoner and was held in the Tokyo Military Prison (Shibuya Military Prison). By early May 1945, a total of 62 American POWs were detained in cell block 4.

On the night of May 25-26, a total of 464 B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers took off from the Marianas Islands to firebomb Tokyo. The incendiary bombs consumed Tokyo Military Prison. The Japanese guards locked the cell doors to block escape from the fire. POWs who attempted to escape were executed. The prison guards were later convicted at the War Crimes Tribunal and executed.

Sedon was killed in action on May 26, 1945, during the prison fire caused by the American fire-bomb raid of Tokyo. All 62 American prisoners were killed in action during the Tokyo Military Prison fire. They were buried on the prison grounds in a mass grave.

Sedon was posthumously awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart. His remains were identified and repatriated to the United States. On October 7, 1949, final rites were held at Salem Evangelical United Brethren Church. Sedon was buried in Oakland Cemetery in Warren, Pa.

Stories Behind the Stars memorials are accessible for free on the internet and via smartphone app at gravesites and cenotaphs. The non-profit organization is dedicated to honoring all 421,000 fallen Americans from World War II, including 31,000 from Pennsylvania. To volunteer or to get more information, contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org or visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org.