USN
VP-34
"Black Cats"
Nicholas
Trugain
Command Pilot Lt.
(jg) Nathan Green Gordon (Morrilton, AR)
Pilot Jack Kelly (Staten
Island, NY)
Pilot Leurelle Fulmer (Littlerock,
AR)
Pilot Walter Patrick (FL)
Radio Alex Alexander
Radio Robert Murch
Mechanic John Bratley (Cleveland,
OH)
Aviation
Machinest Joe Germeau (Port
Washington, WA)
Mechanic AAM1c Wiley R. Routon
Waritme History
February 15, 1944: Lt. Nathan
G. Gordon and his crew of the Samarai
Island detachment
were assigned to provide air-sea rescue support to the Army for an
air attack on the enemy-held Kavieng,
New Ireland. Lieutenant (jg) Nate
Gordon made four full stall landings in the rough waters of the
harbor to collect survivors, coming under intense enemy fire. He rescued
crews from the following aircraft, each rescue requiring the PBY to
land in full view of the Japanese: B-25D "Gremlins
Holiday" 41-30041, B-25C "Pissonit" 41-30370, B-25D
41-30531. The PBY crew located and picked up 15 Army fliers shot down
during the attack.
After rescuing the last man, Lieutenant (jg) Gordon was running out of fuel and was forced to land at Finchafen, New Guinea. There he unloaded the Army fliers on the recently arrived tender San Pablo (AVP 30) before refueling and returning to Samarai.
Medal of Honor
Lt.(jg) Gordon later earned
the Medal of Honor for his conduct, and each member of his crew received
the Silver Star. Admiral "Bull" Halsey, mentioned the
rescue in a telegram after the mission: "Please pass my admiration
on to that saga writing Kavieng Cat crew - Halsey"
PBY
Nate Gordon
MOH
Citation
