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| USN VB-104  VB-104 Album c1943  VB-104 Album c1943 |
Commander Lt. Harold E. Dvorachek, O-104725 USNR (MIA / KIA) AR 1st Pilot Lt(jg) Henry E. Campbell, O-156679 USNR (MIA / KIA) TX 2nd Pilot Lt(jg) Paul D. Riley, O-156551 USNR (MIA / KIA) KS Bombardier AOM3c Lawrence F. Green, 6225743 USNR (MIA / KIA) MI Crew AMM1c Henry O. Jeska, 3287933 (MIA / KIA) MN Crew ARM2c John C. Bennett, 2247561 (MIA / KIA) NJ Crew AMM2c George W. Masters, 6480956 USNR (MIA / KIA) NB Crew ARM2c Joseph A. Griskiewicz, 6468267 USNR (MIA / KIA) NY Crew AMM2c Harold W. Jones, 6560235 USNR (MIA / KIA) SC Crew AOM2c Bernard H. Keogan, 3290260 (MIA / KIA) MN Crew AMM2c William F. Hagendoorn, 6165087 USNR (MIA / KIA) TX MIA January 8, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 1801. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as a B-24D-90-CO Liberator 42-40724. On April 29, 1943 assigned to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PB4Y-1 Liberator bureau number 32077. Wartime History Assigned to Bombing Squadron 104 (VB-104). Nicknamed "Vulnerable Virgin" in capital letters with the nose art of a female blonde nude laying on her back with her left hand in her hair and right hand extended and knees bent. On the left side of the nose were at least three bomb markings indicating missions flown. This PB4Y-1 operated from Carney Field on Guadalcanal. Mission History On January 8, 1944 took off from Munda Airfield on New Georgia piloted by Lt. Harold E. Dvorachek with crew 10 on a patrol mission. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on January 14, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Dvorachek earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Gold Stars and Purple Heart, posthumously. Campbell earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Gold Stars and Purple Heart, posthumously. Riley earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Gold Stars and Purple Heart, posthumously. Green earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Gold Stars and Purple Heart, posthumously. Jeska earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Gold Stars and Purple Heart, posthumously. Bennett earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Gold Stars and Purple Heart, posthumously. Masters earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Gold Stars and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Fort McPherson National Cemetery in Maxwell, NB at plot MA, site 36. Griskiewicz earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Gold Stars and Purple Heart, posthumously. Jones earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Gold Stars and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is also memorialized on a World War II memorial at Mt. Zion Park in Winnsboro, SC. Keogan earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Gold Stars and Purple Heart, posthumously. Hagendoorn earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Gold Stars and Purple Heart, posthumously. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-90-CO Liberator 42-40724 "40724 to USN as PB4Y-1 32077 Apr 30, 1943" Navy Serial Number Search Results - PB4Y-1 Liberator 32077 "32077 (ex USAAF B-24D 42-40724, VB-104) missing 1/8/1944, South Pacific. 10 MIA." USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List January 1944 - PB4Y-1 Liberator 32077 VB-104 Album page 43 crew 10 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold E. Dvorachek American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Henry E. Campbell American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Paul D. Riley American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lawrence F. Green American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Henry O. Jeska American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John C. Bennett American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George W. Masters American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph A. Griskiewicz American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold W. Jones American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Bernard H. Keogan American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William F. Hagendoorn FindAGrave - Lt Harold E Dvorachek (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - LtJG Henry E Campbell (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - LtJG Paul D Riley (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Paul Donald Riley (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - AOM3 Lawrence F Green (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AMM1 Henry O Jeska (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - ARM2 John C Bennett (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AMM2 George Warren Masters (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - George Warren Masters (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Joseph A Griskiewicz (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AMM2 Harold Walton Jones (photo, tablets of the missing photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - AOM2 Bernard H Keogan (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AMM2 William F Hagendoorn (tablets of the missing photo) VPB-104 PB4Y Squadron - Tour 1 Aircraft "32077 - Vulnerable Virgin Hager, 13 - Lost at sea with Dvorachek crew" VPB-104 PB4Y Squadron - VB-104 Aircraft Numbers & Names Robin Owens: Vulnerable virgin was not MIA, it crash landed [Vulnerable virgin crash landed on runway on Russell island] and entire crew was killed except for one man named Nathan Hodge who was trapped in nose turret when it broke free from plane on impact. I knew him personally and recently passed away a couple of years ago at the age of 94. Amazing man and hero! Told me how he shot down three zeros in one encounter and was wounded in the process." VPB-104 PB4Y Squadron - Tour 1 Crews, Crew 10 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 5, 2021 |
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