Mission History
Took off from Guadalcanal on a mission against southern Bougainville.

Fates of the Crew
The crew were taken prisoner and transported to Rabaul as POWs.

Cephas (or possibly Cephes, pronounced 'Sethus', likely 18 year old in 1943) Kelly is described in Joseph G. Nason wrote in Horio You Die Next appearing to be near death. Kelly departed Rabaul with a group of prisoners on November 13, 1943 and was sent to Japan. He survived the war, and passed away in 1984.

Following the bombing of Rabaul, Berry was executed at Talili Bay around March 15, 1944. He is buried at the in a group burial 21 Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery St. Louis, MO.

Father James Benson writes in Prisoner's Base And Home Again:
"The elder who I guessed to be Berry, had a rough bandage on his left leg, otherwise he looked tolerable well, though hunger and desperately tired. The youngster looked pretty sick... These two airmen were still in their cell at the end of June [1943]. In later weeks they had been dreadfully tortured - the secret police were in charge at the time - but with magnificent courage they were holding out. Kelly had been given practically no quinine; poor lad, he was desperately ill.

It was ten days before I had a chance to whisper to Berry. He was in considerable pain. 'Beat up every day' he whispered; 'hung up by the feet. They want information.' 'Can't you give them false information?' I asked, 'Wont' do. They spot it. Then it's worse.' Surely I thought there was no greater courage than this; the courage of men who, having faced the perils and dangers of combat in the air, must now suffer this inhuman torture. A few words would ease them of this daily pain, but they never spoke. And theirs was an ordeal that went on and on. When I left the prison in late June they had been tortured almost every day. Berry was standing up to it magnificently. But poor young Kelly was nearing the end of hi tether, but he too was holding out. I repeat that surely such persistent, continual courage is fare greater than that of the bravest soldier in action."

References
Prisoner's Base And Home Again mentions Berry and Kelly
Horio You Die Next Mentions Kelly
Thanks to Edward Rogers for information on the fates of Berry and Kelly

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

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