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| USN VD-3 Former Assignments VD-4  VD-3 1943 |
Pilot Lt. Larren M. Allen, 0-83928 USNR (MIA / KIA) Mount Vernon, IL Co-Pilot Ensign Peter T. Chester, 0-145466 USNR (MIA / KIA) NY Navigator Ensign Harold C. Petersen, 0-240720 USNR (MIA / KIA) Brush, CO Radar Lt(jg) Reed G. Held, 0-151575 (MIA / KIA) PA Mechanic AMM2c Raymond A. Dandoy, 6142434 USNR (MIA / KIA) PA Asst. Mechanic AMM2c William I. Walsh, 3007604 (MIA / KIA) IL Gunner ARM1c Gosta H. Johnson, 6620963 USNR (MIA / KIA) CA Radio-Gunner S1c Kirk E. Crowe, 6334818 USNR (MIA / KIA) Des Moines, IA Ordinance AOM2c Gail Miller, 3936624 (MIA / KIA) OR Photographer PHOM2c Laurence J. McDonald, 3831008 (MIA / KIA) CA Photographer PHOM1c Billy J. Buchanan, 6623976 USNR (MIA / KIA) Daviess County, MO Gunner AOM2c Rano Della-Santa, 6663727 (MIA / KIA) Waterbury, VT Crashed January 5, 1944 at 5:15am Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego as Model 32. Constructors Number 1351. On January 31, 1943 assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-45-CO Liberator serial number 42-40274. On February 17, 1943 to Tucson. During March 1943 delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PB4Y-1 Liberator bureau number 32019. Wartime History On March 18, 1943 assigned Photographic Squadron Four (VD-4). Converted into a PB4Y-1P photographic reconnaissance version. Assigned to Photographic Squadron Three (VD-3). Squadron Number 8. No known nickname or nose art. On January 1, 1944 at 7:00pm took off from Canton Airfield on a flight bound for Apemama Airfield (Apamama) landing on January 2, 1944 at 1:00am. Mission History On January 5, 1944 at 2:00am took off from Apemama Airfield (Apamama) piloted by Lt. Larren M. Allen with PB4Y-1P Liberator 31987 pilot Commander Robert J. Stroh on a low level oblique photographic reconnaissance mission over Kwajalein Atoll. Flying at an altitude of 200', the pair photographed a section of the seaward beach on the northern side of the atoll from Roi to the west. Departing the target area, the pair were intercepted by twelve Japanese fighters and this Liberator was shot down at approximately 5:15am and crashed into the sea about 15 miles south of Kwajalein Atoll. When this bomber failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Richard Dunn adds: "The Japanese Navy 24th Air Flotilla War Diary has only summarized information for early January 1944. No details on this interception. I did find a Photo Intel. Report - Ph. Recce & Intel, Section, POA, Report No. 264 14 Jan 44. For Roi and Kwajalein. It gives aircraft sightings for 3 missions - 4 Dec., 22 Dec., 43 and 5 Jan. 44. It gives details for first two. 12/4: 33MB probably Betty and 33 F. For 12/22 it gives: 35 MB Betty, 5 MB Nell, and 27, possibly 28 F. However, for 1/5 it says, "at least 16 MB, exact numbers unknown. Cryptic nature of 1/5 report might suggest observation was hurried by presence of intercepting fighters." Justin Taylan adds: "The Japanese side of this interception and shoot down is not clear. Likely, the interception was by A6M Zeros. In early January 1944 the 281 Kokutai (281 AIr Group) was based at Roi Airfield and 252 Kokutai (252 Air Group) was at Taroa Airfield located roughly 280 miles to the east-southeast." Memorials The enter crew was officially declared dead on January 14, 1946. Allen earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 5. He also has a memorial marker at Hopewell Cemetery in Idlewood, IL. Chester earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant (Junior Grade) posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 5. Petersen earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 1. Held earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 3. He also has a memorial marker Union Hill Cemetery in Weissport, PA section E row 2 lot 89. Dandoy earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 5. He also has a memorial at Arlington National Cemetery in memorial section F site 30-1. Walsh earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 2. Johnson earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously (not listed on ABMC). He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 3. Crowe earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 5. McDonald earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 1. Miller earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 1. Buchanan earned the Purple Heart, posthumously (not listed on ABMC). He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 5. He also has a memorial marker at Golden Gate National Cemetery in section MA, site 5. Della-Santa earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 5. He also has a memorial marker at Hope Cemetery in Barre, VT next to his parent's graves. References Note, many sources list incorrectly list the date of the loss as January 4, 1944. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D Liberator 42-40274 "40274 to USN as PB4Y-1 32019." Navy Serial Number Search Results PB4Y-1 Liberator 32019 "32019 (ex USAAF B-24D 42-40274)" U.S. Navy PB4Y Airframe History List - PB4Y-1 32019 "PB4Y-1 / 32019 / B-24D-45-CO / 42-40274 / squadron: VD-3/VD-4 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List January 1944 - PB4Y-1P Liberator 32019 NARA VD-3 War History page 6 (Page 6) "5 January 1944. Two plane. Low oblique photo reconnaissance mission against Kwajalein Atoll. The planes were attacked by twelve enemy fighters as the retired from the target. One plane, Bureau No 32019, pilot Lt. Larren M. Allen, was shot down and seen to crash about fifteen miles south of the [Kwajalein] Atoll. The entire crew was listed as missing in action." NARA VD-3 War Diary January 1944 pages 2-3 (Page 2) "Bu.No. 32019 / Squadron Number 8 / Pilot: Lieutenant Allen" "At 1900Z, 1 January 1944 Lieutenant Allen in Bu.No. 32019 took off from Canton for Apamama, arriving at 0100, 2 January." (Page 3) "...Lieutenant Allen in Bu.No. 32019 took off for a low oblique photographic reconnaissance mission to Kwajalein Atoll." Japanese Monograph No. 173 page 57 "Two large enemy aircraft over Roi." DPAA Personnel Profile - Lt. Larren M Allen "On January 4, 1945 [sic January 5, 1944], a PB4Y-1P Liberator (bureau number 32019) with a twelve-man crew took off from Apamama Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Non-recoverable." NARA Records of World War II Prisoners of War does not list any of the crew as offical POWs of Japan American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Larren M. Allen FindAGrave - LT Larren Marcine Allen (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Larren M. Allen (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Peter T. Chester FindAGrave - LTJG Peter T. Chester (courts of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold C. Petersen FindAGrave - ENS Harold Clayton Petersen (photo, courts of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Reed G. Held FindAGrave - LTJG Reed Gaumer Held (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Reed Gaumer Held (photos, memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Raymond A. Dandoy FindAGrave - AMM2 Raymond Aime Dandoy (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Raymond Aime Dandoy (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William I. Walsh FindAGrave - AMM2 William I. Walsh (group photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - William Irving “Billy” Walsh (photo, courts of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gosta H. Johnson FindAGrave - ARM1 Gosta Herbert Johnson (courts of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kirk E. Crowe FindAGrave - S1 Kirk Ernest Crowe (photo, courts of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Laurence J. McDonald FindAGrave - PHOM2 Laurence J. McDonald (courts of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gail Miller FindAGrave - AOM2 Gail Miller (photos, courts of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Billy J. Buchanan FindAGrave - PHOM1 Billy J. Buchanan (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Billy Joe Buchanan (memorial marker photos) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Rano Della-Santa FindAGrave -AOM2 Rano Della-Santa (photo, courts of the missing) FindAGrave - Rano “Curly” Della Santa (memorial marker photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated January 5, 2026 |
 PB4Y-1  MIA 12 Missing |
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