USAAF
7th AF
41st BG
820th BS
Pilot 1st Lt. Gerard J. Galvin, O-794392
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. John T. Moyer, O-742199
Navigator 1st Lt. Charles F. Jennings, O-789776
Radio T/Sgt Steve J. Miko, 20522617 (Cleveland, OH)
Gunner S/Sgt John W. Major, 11044267
Gunner Cpl. Samuel A. Bush, 14134088
Crashed January 2, 1944
MACR 1586
Mission History
Took off from Tarawa Airfield. One of nine B-25 flying at low altitude for a strike at Emiej Island part of Jaluit Atoll. Struck by anti-aircraft fire, and damaged. Reportedly lossing part of its right wing which struck the tail and cause the plane to invert, then crashed into the lagoon off Imroij. After the war, the Japanese reported all died in the crash.
Wreckage
The debris field of this aircraft was discovered in 1998 by Matt Holly. Interviews with locals by Matt Holly reveals that the bodies were originally brought onto the beach, and personal effects removed, then dumped on the far side of the reef, near the crash site by the locals under orders from the Japanese.
Relatives
Steven Miko (son of Steve J. Miko)
"Miko enlisted February 2, 1940 and was assigned to anti-submarine surveillance on the East Coast off of the Carolinas. He awarded the Air Medal. His flight records show that he died on his 20th combat mission in the Pacific Region. All except one on a B-24, were flown on B-25's. Many were with the same pilot, Galvin. The flight he died was the first from APO 240; the mission was listed as C-SS"
References
Matt Holly for historical and wreck details
B-25
90-100'
MIA/KIA
