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Pilot 2nd Lt. Charles M. Allen, O-767722 (survived) Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Clarence E. Meides, O-833949 (POW, executed June 14, 1945, BR) West Seneca, NY Navigator 2nd Lt. Joseph B. Brandt II, O-2069930 (survived) Engineer TSgt Raymond W. Cook, 35557945 (POW, executed June 14, 1945, BR) Radio SSgt Robert J. Bencek, 35028326 (survived) Radar SSgt Robert L. Wiehl, 33425829 (POW, executed June 14, 1945, BR) Medical Tech Sgt James E. Blackmore, 34141780 (POW, executed June 14, 1945, BR) Abandoned June 5, 1945 MACR 14601 Aircraft History Built by Canadian Vickers Limited in Montreal, Canada. Constructors Number CV523. Delivered to the U. S. Navy (USN) as PBV-1A Catalina 67976. Assigned to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as OA-10A Catalina serial number 44-34012. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 5th Emergency Rescue Group (5th ERG), 6th Emergency Rescue Squadron (6th ERS). No known nickname or nose art. During early April 1945 ferried across the Pacific piloted by 2nd Lt. Charles M. Allen to the Philippines. On April 8, 1945 arrives Mangaldan Airfield (Honey). When lost, engines R-1830-92 serial number CP-356560 and CP-357512. Armed with two .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers are not listed on Missing Air Crew Report 14601 (MACR 14601). Mission History On June 5, 1945 took off from Clark Field (APO 74) piloted by 2nd Lt. Charles M. Allen on a rescue mission to Fuga Island to pick up the survivors of B-24J Liberator 44-41126. The weather was reported as good. At 5:35pm the Catalina was badly damaged while landing off Fuga Island and unable to take off and was beached and abandoned. Fates of the Crew The seven crew went ashore in an attempt to link up with the survivors of the bomber crash. Walking inland, they were surprised by Japanese soldiers and four crew were never seen again: Meides, Blackmore, Cook and Wiehl and listed as Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, they were captured by the Japanese Army, 407th Force "Tanaka Force", 4th Company "Sekizaka Unit". On June 14, 1945 all four were executed on Fuga Island. Rescue The other three crew: Allen, Brandt and Bencek were rescued by PT-378 and PT-381. As the PT Boats departed, Allen instructed them to scuttle the abandoned Catalina with gunfire. Afterwards, other PT Boats returned to Fuga Island to search for the other survivors with nil results. Recovery of Remains Postwar, the fate of the four missing was learned from captured Japanese documents and their Their remains were recovered and transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials On March 1, 1950 the remains of Meides, Cook, Wiehl and Blackmore were buried in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at section 34, site 4149. Cook is also memorialized on his siblings grave at Toledo Memorial Park in Sylvania, OH. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Raymond W. Cook NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert J. Bencek NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert L. Wiehl NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James E. Blackmore Navy Serial Number Search Results - Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Catalina 67976 "67976 (MSN CV523) to USAAF as 44-34012" USAF Serial Number Search Results - Canadian Vickers OA-10A Catalina 44-34012 "34012 (MSN CV523) ex BuNo 67976. (5th BG) MIA Jun 5, 1945, S Pacific." NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File does not list the four crew members as official prisoners of the Japanese, but this was not uncommon for POWs captured in forward areas and executed. Missing Air Crew Report 14601 (MACR 14601) created June 7, 1945 Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) 5th Emergency Rescue (IRISNUM: 00099752) Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) 6th Emergency Rescue (IRISNUM: 00067322) pages 1-6, medical page 2 (Medical page 2) "While on a routie combat mission on 6 June [sic 5 June], an OA-10 made an open sea landing near Fuga Island to effect the rescue of survivors of a B-25 [sic B-24] which had crashed on the island shortly before." Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Clarence E. Meides (group burial photos) FindAGrave - 2LT Clarence Edward Meides (group burial photo) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) does not list Raymond W. Cook FindAGrave - TSGT Raymond Willard Cook (group burial photo and siblings grave) FindAGrave - Leonard Franklin Cook (grave photo) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Robert L. Wiehl FindAGrave - Robert L. Wiehl (group burial photo) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - James E. Blackmore FindAGrave - Sgt James Edward Blackmore (group burial photo) Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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