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| USN USS Bennington CV-20 VT-82  VT-82 Feb 18, 1945 |
Pilot Ensign Robert "Bob" T. King (survived) Gunner AOM3c Grady Alvan York, Jr., 5568232 USN (POW, executed 2-23-45, MIA) Jacksonville, FL Radio ARM3c James "Jim" W. Dye, Jr. (POW, executed 2-25-45) Mount Ephraim, NJ Ditched February 18, 1945 Aircraft History Built by General Motors, Eastern Aircraft Division as model G-40. Constructors Number 47. Delivered to the United States Navy (USN) as TBM-3 Avenger bureau number 22904. Wartime History Assigned to the USS Bennington (CV-20) to Torpedo Squadron 82 (VT-82). No known nickname or nose art. Tail code 113 with a white arrow pointing upward the squadron motif. Mission History On February 18, 1945 took off from USS Bennington (CV-20) piloted by Ensign Robert "Bob" T. King on a dive bombing mission against installations on the shore of Futami Ko (Futami Bay) on Chi Chi Jima. Over the target, TBM Avenger 22889 piloted by Ensign Robert J. Cosbie was hit by anti-aircraft fire and struck this aircraft before crashing in flames into the sea off Chi Chi Jima in Japan. Fearing the plane would crash, pilot King attempted to maintain control and ordered his two crew to bail out to save their lives and were observed to parachute out safely and landed in enemy territory and were reported as Missing In Action (MIA). Despite the damage, King was able to maintain control of the damaged aircraft and ditched into the sea near destroyer USS Harrison DD-573. During the landing, he sustained slight injuries but was rescued and later returned to duty. Fates of the Crew York and Dye successfully bailed out over the target. Both were captured by the Japanese and became prisoners of war (POW). Days later, both crew were ordered to be executed by General Yoshio Tachibana with parts of their body removed and served to high ranking officers as part part of a Bushido warrior indoctrination ceremony. On February 23, 1945 York was taken to a rifle range, tied to a tree and while alive used for bayonet practice by Japanese soldiers under the supervision of Captain Masao Yamashita. While still alive he was beheaded by Captain Masao Yamashita. Afterwards, his body was buried. After the official surrender of Japan, the Japanese decided to destroy his body in an attempt to hide the war crime. On August 16, 1945 his body was exhumed, cremated and the ashes thrown into the sea. executed on the orders of Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN). He remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). On February 25, 1945 Dye was executed by Captain Shizuo Yoshii. Parts of his dead body were removed and served to high ranking officers as part part of a Bushido warrior indoctrination ceremony. His fiancée, Gloria Nields, had given him a white scarf, which he always wore when flying that was taken as a souvenir by a Japanese Lieutenant. War Crimes Trial During 1947, the three Japanese held responsible for the murder and cannibalism of York and Dye were put on trail as war criminals on Guam and all three were found guilty. General Tachibana who ordered the executions and cannibalism was found guilty. He was hanged then his buried in an unmarked grave on Guam. Captain Yamashita who executed York went on trial as a war criminal on Guam. He was found guilty and served seveal years in prison. Captain Yoshii who executed Dye went on trial as a war criminal on Guam. He was hanged then his buried in an unmarked grave on Guam. Recovery of Remains Postwar, American occupation forces located Dye's remains and transported them back to the United States for permanent burial. The remains of York were not found and he remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials York was officially declared dead on February 23, 1945. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. York is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 2. Dye was officially declared dead on February 25, 1945. After his remains were recovered, he was permanently buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section N grave 1291. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - TBM-3 Avenger 22904 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List February 1945 - TBM-3 Avenger 22904 listed as area "Empire" and Fate "M" [Missing] incorrectly, pilot rescued, two crew members POW, executed NARA Torpedo Squadron Eighty-Two - Official Squadron History 1 April 1944 to 9 July 1945 pages 7-8 (Page 4) "18 Feb. - Shipping and waterfront installations at Futami Ko Chichi Jima were attacked with indeterminate results." (Page 5) "Ensign Robert T. King's plane was heavily damaged. His crew, Grady A. York, Jr. AOM3c, and James W. Dye, Jr., ARM3c, bailed out over the target and are missing. Ensign King was slightly injured in the subsequent ditching. He was rescued by a DD [destroyer]. (Page 14) "During the strike [February 18, 1945] on Chichi Jima.. On this same strike the plane flown by Ensign Robert T. King was heavily damaged. His crew, Grady A. York, Jr. AOM3c, and James W. Dye, Jr., ARM3c, bailed out and are missing. Ensign King was slightly injured while making a water landing." NARA U.S. S. Bennington CV-20 Action Report For Period 10 February -- 2 March 1945 page 3, 10, 12 (Page 3) "Bennington planes (16 VF, 11 VB, 11 VT) joined others in a strike on shipping and harbor installations, northern part of Futami Bay, Chichi Jima. Heavy AA encountered. Lost or missing: 2 VT, 1 VB, 2 pilots, and 5 aircrew men. Damage inflicted on small ships, seaplane base and waterfront shops." 22904 NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File does not list either York or Dye as official POWs of the Japanese American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Grady A. York Jr. FindAGrave - Grady Alvah York (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - James Wesley Dye, Jr (photos, grave photo) Flyboys (2004) includes the story of this aircraft and crew Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated February 22, 2024 |
 Avenger  POW 2 Prisoners Executed |
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