Crew 26

On 28 April, one composite Squadron of the 39th of 12 aircraft, along with other groups of the 314th Wing, struck the Kushira Airfield. Eleven planes bombed the primary. The other, having arrived late at the assembly area joined the 19th Group and bombed Kanoya Airfield. The weather was clear, and the bombing altitude was around 17,000 feet. So preoccupied with enemy aircraft, results at Kushira were reported as unobserved. Strike photographs indicated good to excellent, while results of the 19th were judged as only fair. Enemy opposition was the heaviest encountered to date. Some 50 aircraft were present in the target area, and the enemy pressed 30 to 40 attacks on the formation. Gunners claimed nine destroyed, four probables, and four more damaged. One plane ditched that day with 11 men and one passenger. This was Orionchek's Crew 26 with Clarence Beevers, engineer of P-31R on his orientation flight. P-26 had been rammed over the target. Pulley's crew would report the location of the ditching and all-12 men were in lifeboats. Bad weather prevented a rescue; the men disappeared about two days later. "The reality of losing Beevers and the enlisted members of Orionchek's crew from our quonset was a shocker! The empty cots across the aisle was a reminder of the seriousness of the War. For Henry Snow, an observer on Pulley's crew, to see his own flight engineer lost was heartbreaking," stated David Smith, Tail Gunner, P-31.

No items found.