 NAME
|
TP | - | M# | SER | - | BLK | - | MF | SERIAL # |
AF |
BG |
BS |
SC | RCL/# | V#-P | PHOTO CREDITS |
GOON, The |
B |
- |
24 |
D |
- |
20 |
- |
CO |
41-24183 |
14 |
308 |
374 |
~ |
~ |
00-5 | NARA |
Port (Left) Side - Character from "Popeye
Comics" (Creator -
Elzie Segar)
Lost 14 Nov 43, CHN - MACR
12413 - Pilot Samuel J. Skousen
Transferred to 1330th Air Transport Command (ATC)
Lost 1 Feb 45, IND - MACR
12030 - Pilot Delton D. Shilling
Bisbee, Arizona WWII Memorial
Arthur
J. Benko (Top Turret Gunner)
From the CBI Roundup VOL. II NO. 4 REG NO. L5015 DELHI, FRIDAY OCTOBER 8, 1943
Info Contributor -
Jack Gross
14 Nov 43 - The GOON lost two engines
returning from a night raid on the Kowloon docks (Hong Kong). To keep the
aircraft aloft, the crew tossed out everything they could, and then bailed out
over French Indochina. Sam Skousen (Pilot) was then able to fly the B-24 to
safety.
Arthur J. Benko (Top Turret Gunner) shot down 16 (confirmed) Japanese fighters to
his credit - the most of any bomber gunner in the USAAF. There was a post-war
effort that he be awarded the Medal of Honor, as done with fighter pilots with
similar enemy kill counts. However, in 2009, he was posthumously awarded the
Silver Star.
Shown on Top Turret: TSgt Arthur J. Benko (Top Turret Gunner) / in Cockpit: 1Lt Sam Skousen (Pilot)
| Standing (L-R) SSgt Robert Kirk - Gunner 2Lt Ralph Bower, Jr. - Co-Pilot TSgt Archey Fleharty - Engineer SSgt William Novak - Radio Operator |
Kneeling (L-R) Capt Robert Burnett - (Non-Crew) 2Lt Daniel Palmer - Navigator 2Lt Malcolm Sanders - Bombardier Sgt Caspar Chireleison - Asst/Radio Operator 2Lt James Lichtenfels - (Non-Crew) |
Info Contributor -
Douglas Sheley
14 Nov 43 - While
heading to target, the aircraft developed engine trouble severe enough to force
most of the crew to bail out. Three of the crew stayed with the plane and
managed to get it to the base at Kweilin, China. Five of the seven who bailed
out were returned to duty and two were listed as MIA (later KIA).
Capt. Samuel J. Skousen - Pilot (stayed with plane, RTD)
1st Lt. Ralph E. Bowers, Jr. - Co-Pilot (bailed out, RTD)
1st Lt. Daniel J. Palmer - Navigator (bailed out, RTD)
1st Lt. Malcolm S. Sanders - Bombardier (bailed out, KIA)
T/Sgt. Archie L. Fleharty - Engineer/Gunner (stayed with plane, RTD)
T/Sgt. William J. Novak - Radio Operator (stayed with plane, RTD)
T/Sgt. Arthur J. Benko - Gunner/Asst. Engineer (bailed out, KIA)
S/Sgt. Casper J. Chirieleison - Gunner/Asst. Radio Operator (bailed out, RTD)
T/Sgt. Robert M. Kirk - Gunner (bailed out, RTD)
Capt. James S. Edney - Observer (bailed out, RTD)
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Best Web. Published on Veterans Day 11/11/97. Last
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27-Mar-2021
