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| USAAF 14th AF 308th BG 374th BS
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Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 978. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-20-CO Liberator serial number 41-24183. Ferried overseas to India. Wartime History Assigned to the 14th Air Force (14th AF), 308th Bombardment Group (308th BG), 374th Bombardment Squadron (374th BS). Nicknamed "The Goon" with the nose art of the character from Popeye Comics with hairy arms, legs and chest holding a yellow bomb. This B-24 flew at least 24 combat missions. When lost, engines R-1830-43 serial numbers 42-59104, 42-59057, 42-59089 and 42-59266. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers unknown. Mission History On November 14, 1943 took off piloted by Captain Samuel J. Skousen from Chengkung Airfield in China at 4:30pm on a mission to bomb Kowloon Docks near Hong Kong and lay mines in the harbor. Aboard was the following crew: Pilot Captain Samuel J. Skousen, O-661881 (stayed with plane, RTD) Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Ralph E. Bowers, Jr., O-730070 (bailed out, RTD) Navigator 1st Lt. Daniel J. Palmer, O-791624 (bailed out, RTD) Bombardier 1st Lt. Malcolm S. Sanders, O-728513 (bailed out, MIA / KIA) WI Engineer T/Sgt. Archie L. Fleharty, 17037803 (stayed with plane, RTD) Radio Operator T/Sgt. William J. Novak, 18069299 (stayed with plane, RTD) Top Turret Gunner / Asst. Engineer T/Sgt. Arthur J. Benko, 39847409 (bailed out, MIA / KIA) Bisbee, AZ Gunner/Asst. Radio Operator S/Sgt Casper J. Chirieleison, 13042418 (bailed out, RTD) Gunner T/Sgt. Robert M. Kirk, 16006724 (bailed out, RTD) Observer Capt. James S. Edney, O-402440 (bailed out, RTD) Inbound to the target, this B-24 developed engine troubles and the crew threw out everything possible to lighten the bomber. Expecting the engines to fail, seven of the crew bailed out at roughly 9:30pm over Koyiu at roughly Lat 112° 30" N Long 23° 00E. Three of the crew Skousen, Fleharty and Novak stayed with the plane and managed to land on November 15, 1943 at Kweilin Airfield. It is unclear what happened to this B-24 after this mission. Possibly, it was repaired and continued to fly combat missions. Or, it was scrapped or otherwise disappeared. Fates of the crew Of the seven crew that bailed out, Bowers, Palmer, Chirieleison, Kirk and Edney returned to duty on November 27, 1943. Sanders and Benko were both were officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Sanders was officially declared dead November 15, 1943. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Sanders remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Benko was officially declared dead on November 15, 1943. He earned the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Benko also has a memorial marker located on the side of Highway 90 next to Lavender Pit between the old and new towns of Bisbee, Arizona. Benko claimed 16 Japanese fighters shot down, the most of any bomber gunner in the USAAF. There was a post-war effort that he earn the Medal of Honor. In 2009, he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Benko remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Skousen died on Oct. 2, 1990. He is buried at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery in Troy, MI. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-20-CO Liberator 41-24183 "24183 (308th BG, 374th BS, "The Goon") lost Feb 1, 1945, China. MACR 12030." Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 12413 Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 12030 related to B-24D 41-24138 incorrectly lists its serial as 41-24183 [sic] American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Malcolm S. Sanders American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Arthur J. Benko FindAGrave - Samuel James Skousen (photos) FindAGrave - 1Lt Malcolm S Sanders (photos) FindAGrave - TSgt Arthur J Benko (photos) Thanks to Pete Johnston for additional information Contribute
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