Crew History
Observer Shiley had recieved orders for transfer home, but volunteered to fly the mission in hopes of experiencing some combat before leaving, but never returned from the mission.

Aircraft History
This aircraft was a B-24D Serial Number 41-24084. Assigned to US Navy. This PB4Y was a a VB-101 aircraft operated by VB-102 on the mission it was lost.

Note that Lehman is not in the crew but was lost on another mission.

Took off at 0128 on bombing mission of enemy positions. Failed to return to base at estimated time of arrival. Subsequent searches revealed no sign of plane or occupants. Witnesses in another plane believe it shot down in flames by enemy night fighter. Assumed MISSING IN ACTION.

Mission History
One of five PB4Ys that took off from Carney Field on Guadalcanal at 0128 on a predawn bombing mission: two PB4Ys from VB-102 and three from VB-101 dropped cluster bombs from 12,000' over Kahilli. On the return leg of the mission, the two PB4Ys from VB-102 were attacked by a night fighter.

This bomber failed to return to base at estimated time of arrival. Witnesses in another plane believe it shot down in flames by enemy night fighter. Subsequent searches revealed no sign of plane or occupants. Assumed missing in action.

Japanese side of the mission: at 0225, a pair of J1N1 Irving night fighers of the 251st Kokutai that took off from Ballale Airfield. One piloted by Okado sighted a B-24 flying in the opposite direction and made three strafing run against the plane at 3:47, and observed it going down in flames. Both night fighters returned to base.

Memorials
The entire crew was declared dead on January 7, 1946 and are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
We Flew Alone covers this loss
Thanks to Henry Sakaida for Bu No and pilot
Kodachosho, 251st Kokutai, July 17, 1943
Thanks to Minoru Kamada for Japanese translation and Jim Sawruk for crew details

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MIA