Pacific Wrecks

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

B-24J-1-CO "Raunchy" Serial Number 42-72980 Nose 252

USAAF
7th AF
27th BG
30th BS

Pilot Captain Robert R. Orr (survived)
Co-Pilot  1st. Lt. Robert K. Ellison (survived)
Navigator  2nd. Lt. Siegfried F. Benkman (survived)
Bombadier  1st. Lt. Peter J. Fiore (KIA)
Engineer  T/Sgt. Hoyt H. Bean (survived)
Asst. Engineer  T/Sgt. Hoyt H. Bean (survived)
Radio  S/Sgt James W. Smith (survived)
Asst. Radio S/Sgt. Robert J. Weber (survived)
Tail Gunner  S/Sgt. Earl L. Overstreet (KIA)
Passenger  1st. Lt. George L. Wagner (survived)
Crashed  November 19, 1943

Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Delivered to the U. S. Army. Ferried to Hawaii then to the central Pacific.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 7th Air Force, 27th Bombardment Group, 30th Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed "Raunchy". Nose number 252.

Mission History
On November 19, 1943 returning from a bombing mission over Makin Atoll. While attempting to land at Nanumea Airfield after dark with strong cross winds, this bomber crashed into a clump of palm trees on the right side of the runway. During the crash, one was killed and others were wounded. The rest of the crew survived.

Wreckage
The wreckage of this bomber is still located near the airfield.

Memorials
Overstreet died that day. Buried at Ellawhite Cemetery Uniontown, AL.

Relatives
Pete Fiore (son of Peter J. Fiore) adds:
"The photo I have is very poor and as I can see their was no nose art only the name 'Raunchy', their might of also been the number 252 on the nose."

Tim Williams (cousin of Earl L. Overstreet) adds:
"My cousin is/was Tech Sgt. Earl L. Overstreet, died Nov. 19, 1943."

References
FindAGrave - Sgt Earl L. Overstreet (photos)

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Last Updated
February 18, 2020

B-24

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