|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USN VPB-20  USN June 5, 1945 |
Pilot Lt(jg) Deland Joseph Croze (POW, executed August 4, 1945, BR) Hancock, MI Crew Ensign Marshall Henry Hicks (POW, died of wounds June 11, 1945, BR) Columbia, SC Co-Pilot Ensign Lewis Albert Wheeler (WIA, died of wounds June 5, 1945) Gary, IN Crew ARM3c Edward Adley Calhoun (POW, executed August 4, 1945, BR) McKeesport, PA Crew AOM3c Kenneth James Crow (POW, executed August 4, 1945, BR) Ossian, IN Crew ARM2c Owen Douglas Huls (MIA / KIA, June 6, 1945, BNR) Columbus, OH Crew AMM2c Robert Bernard Jezewski (WIA, died of wounds June 6, 1945, BR) Milwaukee, WI Crew AOM3c Charles Watson Moorefield (KIA, BR) Hampton City, Virginia Crew AERM2c Donald Milton Pell (KIA, BR) Brazil, IN Crew AOM3c Joe Harvey Garcia (POW, executed August 4, 1945, BR) Alice, TX Crew AOM3c Dale A. Hunt (wounded by shark, survived) Kokomo, IN Crew AMM1c John Patrick Igoe (KIA, BR) County Cork, Ireland Crew AMM1c Daulton C. “Stephie” Stephenson (survived) Alamo, TX Crew AMM3c Broadus Lyle Bumpas Jr. (survived) Alcorn County, MS Landed June 4, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Martin as a model 162F. Delivered to the United States Navy (USN) as PBM-5 Mariner bureau number 59062. Wartime History Assigned to Patrol Squadron Twenty (VPB-20) operating from seaplane tender USS Pocomoke (AV-9). No known nickname or nose art. Operated by crew number 14. Mission History On June 4, 1945 took off from Tawi-Tawi Island piloted by Lt(jg) Deland J. Croze on a 12-14 hour patrol to be on station to rescue downed aviators and scout for enemy ships and submarines. During the first ten hours of the patrol made several strafing runs against Japanese ground installations on the east coast of Borneo. Afterwards, flew eastward over the Makassar Strait near the Java Sea and spotted three Japanese ships including two transports and an escort vessel. As the only U.S. aircraft in the area, this Mariner made a solo attack. The first and second attack runs were successful hitting and sinking the two transports. During the third run against the escort, hit by anti-aircraft fire that punctured the fuel tanks. Inside the fuselage, hydraulic lines were broken and caught fire. Aboard, two of the crew were critically wounded: Ensign Lewis A. Wheeler and AMM2c Robert B. Jezewski. Damaged, the Mariner was unable to gain altitude and struggled to maintain an altitude of 100' before force landing on a beach near Tanahmeja village on Celebes (Sulawisi). Fates of the Crew After the ditching, this aircraft was taxied ashore to seek medical attention for the two crew members who were wounded. The crew established a camp on the beach and placed palm fronds atop the wing of the Mariner in an attempt to camouflage the flying boat. Wounded Jezewski was moved ashore and placed into a tent made from one of the parachutes and died of his wounds on June 5, 1945 in the early morning hours. On June 5, 1945 Japanese forces opened fire on the crew camp. During the gun fight, several of the crew were shot and killed or injured. Wheeler was severely wounded and later that day died of his wounds. During the night or in the early morning Jezewski died of his wounds. On June 6, 1945 i the early morning hours Jezewski died of his wounds. Later that morning, the Japanese returned with reinforcements. Overpowered, Croze ordered his men to scatter in hopes of evading capture. Afterwards, five of the crew Croze, Calhoun, Crow, Garcia and Hicks were captured by the Japanese and became Prisoners Of War (POWs). Hicks was badly wounded and refused medical care and died five days later on June 11, 1945. Croze and Calhoun were detained for two months until August 4, 1945 when both were executed by beheading. Recovery of Remains Postwar, the remains of the crew were recovered and transported to Hawaii and the United States for permanent burial. Memorials Wheeler was officially declared dead June 5, 1945. He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery in Michigan City, IN at section O lot 318 grave 6. His grave reads "In memory Ens. Lewis A. Wheeler 1922–1945", it is unclear if this is a memorial marker or if he is buried at this location. Huls was officially declared dead June 5, 1945 and earned Silver Star, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Union Cemetery in Columbus, OH at section 3-W, lot 280. Huls remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Jezewski was officially declared dead on June 6, 1945. During the mission he was severely injured when an anti-aircraft shell exploded nearby and blew off his lower leg and foot. After landing, the rest of the crew moved him ashore and made tent using a parachute to protect him from insects and make him as comfortable as possible and hoped to get medical treatment to save his life. During the night in the early morning of June 6, 1945 he died of his wounds. After the Japanese attacked, the crew scattered, leaving his body behind and his remains were buried by locals. Postwar, his remains were recovered by American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) and transported to Hawaii for burial. On January 10, 1949 he was buried at at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section B site 36. Moorefield was officially declared dead on June 4, 1945. He is buried at Hampton National Cemetery at section F site 799. Pell was officially declared dead on June 5, 1945 shot and killed during the battle with Japanese forces. Postwar, his remains were recovered and transported to the United States for permanent burial. He is buried at Cottage Hill Cemetery in Brazil, IN. Hicks was officially declared dead on June 11, 1945. He is buried at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Columbia, SC at garden A. Croze was officially declared dead on August 4, 1945. He was buried on January 10, 1949 at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section B site 362. Calhoun was officially declared dead on August 4, 1945. He is buried on June 5, 1948 at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Elizabeth, PA at lot 1902 grave 3. Crow was officially declared dead on August 4, 1945. He earned the Silver Star, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Postwar, his remains were recovered and transported to the United States for permanent burial. He is buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Ossian, IN at section 11 lot 15 space 6. Garcia was officially declared dead on August 4, 1945 executed by the Japanese by beheading. He earned the Silver Star, the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Postwar, his remains were recovered and transported to the United States for permanent burial. He is buried at Rose Hill Memorial Park in Corpus Christi, TX. Bumpas passed away on May 3, 1991 at age 65 in Leighton, Colbert County, AL. Hunt passed away on June 20, 2001 at age 75 in Sanford, FL and was cremated with his ashes scattered into the St. Johns River from the same bridge that Dale had scattered the ashes of his son, Harry Lee Hunt who died in 1993. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - PBM-5 Mariner 59062 "59062 (VPB-20) damaged by AAA during attack on Japanese shipping Jun 3, 1945 and made forced landing on beach near of Tanahmeja, Island of Celebes (now Sulawisi), Dutch East Indies. Of the crew of 14, 1 died of wounds, 3 died in gun battle with Japanese troops, 9 were captured and later executed. 3 escaped." News "Reburial Rites Set For Brothers" NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File does not list any of the crew members as acknowledged POWs FindAGrave - Lieut Deland Joseph Croze (photos, grave photo) FindAGrave - ENS Marshall Henry Hicks Jr. (photos, grave photo) FindAGrave - Ens Lewis Albert Wheeler (photos, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Edward Adley Calhoun (photo, grave photos) FindAGrave - Kenneth James Crow (photo, grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Owen D. Huls FindAGrave - ARM2 Owen Douglas Huls (photos, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Owen Douglas Huls (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Robert Bernard Jezewski (photos, grave photo) FindAGrave - Charles Watson Moorefield (photos grave) date of death listed as April 5, 1945 [sic] FindAGrave - Donald Milton Pell (photos, grave photo) FindAGrave - Joe Harvey Garcia (photos, grave photo) FindAGrave - Dale Aaron Hunt (photos) FindAGrave - John Patrick Igoe (photos, grave photo) FindAGrave - Daulton Clifton Stephenson (photo) FindAGrave - Broadus Lyle Bumpas Jr. (photos, grave photo) The Association of Aviation Ordnancemen "Patrol Bombing Squadron 20" Fatal Error: The Final Flight of a Navy WWII Patrol Bomber (2015) by Gary D Cooper Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated June 18, 2023 |
 PBM  POW / MIA 5 Prisoners 1 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
