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| USAAF 11th AF 28th BG 404th BS  USAAF 1944    11th AF August 15, 1944   Dave Bowen 1963 |
Pilot Captain Corbin U. Terry, O-683610 Temple, TX Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Thaddeus C. Buszek, O-812543 Navigator 2nd Lt. William T. Blakemore, O-695864 Oklahoma, OK Bombardier 2nd Lt. Michael J. Dwyer, O-690790 Kewanna, IN Engineer SSgt Harold A. Edinger, 15340436 Blanchester, OH Engineer Raymond "Hoppy" C. Carmichael, 19059361 Wapato, WA Radio Sgt Edward I. Mee, 33477791 Philadelphia, PA Gunner Sgt James H. Siders, 35790601 Hillsboro, OH Armor/Gunner Sgt William H. Smith, 37511455 Kansas City, MO Radio / Radar TSgt Oscar E. Gilinsky, 32569824 Newark, NJ Force Landing August 13, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego. Constructors Number 346. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-CO Liberator serial number 41-11850. Ferried to Alaska. Wartime History Assigned to the 11th Air Force (11th AF), 28th Bombardment Group (28th BG), 404th Bombardment Squadron (404th BS). Nose Number 23. No known nickname or nose art. The crew of this bomber flew a total of 34 combat mission together during May 26, 1944 to March 12, 1945. Mission History On August 13, 1944 took off pilot Captain Corbin U. Terry on a bombing mission. Returning low on fuel with one engine stopped, this bomber made a force landing on Ilak Island in open tundra. Officially, this B-24 was condemned on August 13, 1944. Rescue Three hours after the crash landing, the entire crew was rescued by a U.S. Navy boat directed to them by radio. Wreckage After the force landing, Allied aircraft attempted to bomb the intact wreck, but failed to destroy it. Later, a team landed and set the B-24 wreckage on fire, destroying the fuselage section. Today, the wings, tail section and burned fuselage section remain 'in situ'. Also, bomb craters from the bombing attempt are clearly visible from the air. Memorials Terry remained in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and served in the Korean War and retired with the rank of Major. Terry died January 14, 1992 at age 71 and is buried at San Saba City Cemetery in San Saba, TX. Buszek died February 25, 1997 at age 74. He is buried at Arlington Memorial Park in Sandy Springs, GA. Blakemore died April 3, 2010 at age 88. He is buried at Odessa Cemetery in Lake Valley, OK. Dwyer died September 25, 1988 at age 83. He is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Logansport, IN. Edinger died Augst 5, 2011 at age 88. He is buried at Woodland Cemetery in Xenia, OH. Relatives Bob Gilinsky (grandson of Oscar Gilinsky) "My grandfather was the radio/radar operator and a turret gunner in Terry's crew in the 404th. They completed 32 out of 34 missions in the Aleutian theatre between May '44 and March '45. This crew were the most decorated fliers in that theatre of operations during WWII." References Some sources incorrectly list the nickname as "Li'l Deicer". B-24D "Li'l Deicer" 42-40965 was in same squadron. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Corbin U. Terry NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Thaddeus C. Buszek NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Michael J. Dwyer NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harold A. Edinger NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Raymond C. Carmichael NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward I. Mee NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James H. Siders NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William H. Smith NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Oscar E. Gilinsky USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-CO Liberator 41-11850 "11850 (MSN 346) W/o 13 Aug 1944 at Ilak Island, AK, condemned Aug 13, 1944" News "Narrow Escape" article about SSgt Oscar E. Gilinsky News "Newark Sergeant Wins Second DFC" article about SSgt Oscar E. Gilinsky The Forgotten War mistakenly identified this bomber as B-24D 41-23908 FindAGrave - MAJ Corbin Ute Terry Jr. (grave photo) FindAGrave - Thaddeus Cass Buszek (grave photo) FindAGrave - William T “Bill” Blakemore (grave photo) FindAGrave - Michael James Dwyer (grave photo) FindAGrave - Harold A. Edinger (photos, grave photo) FindAGrave - James Harold Siders (obituary, grave photo) Thanks to Bob Gilinsky and Pete Johnston for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 17, 2025
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