William Botter was Flight Engineer on a B-29 (44-61940) that was badly damaged by a MiG on a mission on October 23, 1951. When the engine caught fire, it headed for safety, but before it could return to base, the crew bailed out into the Yellow Sea. He was one of 6 members subsequently captured and held as a Prisoner of War. One crewman was recovered by allies, and six other members of the crew were either killed or subsequently listed as Missing in Action. The five other POWs were returned alive at the end of the war, but William Botter was listed as Missing in Action and presumed to have been killed or died in captivity.