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| USAAF 11th AF 28th BG 36th BS  Gilliland 1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Don J. Gilliland, O-435763 (MIA / KIA) TX Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Donald G. Walker, O-726523 (MIA / KIA) CA Navigator 2nd Lt. Travis V. Hodges, O-660863 (MIA / KIA) Delight, AR Bombardier 2nd Julius Keller, O-728494 (MIA / KIA) MO Engineer TSgt John D. Helm, 6934736 (MIA / KIA) KS Asst Engineer Sgt Harold A. Swetland, 6913973 (MIA / KIA) OH Radio TSgt Grady W. Anglin, 18018795 (MIA / KIA) TX Belly Gunenr Sgt Lonnie I. Sewell, 18018793 (MIA / KIA) Yell County, AR Tail Gunner Sgt Jes S. McArthur, 18008703 (MIA / KIA) TX Photographer Cpl John V. Beulick, 36395716 (MIA / KIA) IL Passenger Cpl Stanley G. Harmon, Jr., 20916502 (MIA / KIA) CA Crashed April 15, 1943 MACR 16219 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 765. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-15-CO Liberator serial number 41-23970. Wartime History Assigned to the 11th Air Force (11th AF), 28th Bombardment Group (28th BG), 36th Bombardment Squadron (36th BS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On April 15, 1943 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Don J. Gilliland on a bombing mission against Kiska Island. Aboard was passenger Cpl Stanley G. Harmon, Jr. who was normally a cook and was a stowaway. Over the target, this B-24 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Kiska Harbor and crashed into the sea roughly 300 yards east of North Head. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing. Gilliland, Hodges, Keller. Anglin, Helm, Sewell, Harmon and Beulick on court 7. Walker and Swetland on court 5. Gilliland earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. Hodges earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Walker earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Belmont Memorial Park in Fresno, CA in the family plot. Keller earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Walnut Ridge Cemetery in Fayette, MO. Helm earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Skyline Memorial Gardens in Portland, OR. Swetland earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Fairview Cemetery in Belle Center, OH. Anglin earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Sewell earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. McArthur earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Harmon earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Beulick earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Relatives Elizabeth Garcia (relative Harold Swetland) "My relative is Harold Swetland. I have been in contact with family of 10 of the 11 boys on this flight. I have more info I can share. I've spent five years researching these 11 young men, working on making a web section on our private website and eventually making a shutterfly book for the families. So, I would be happy to share! Especially in hopes that along down the road someone might be looking and I might find out more!" References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-15-CO Liberator 41-23970 "23970 (28th BG, 21st BS) lost in Pacific Apr 15, 1943." N. D. Communique No. 346 April 17, 1943 North Pacific "On April 15, Japanese installations at Kiska were attacked thirteen times by formations of U.S. Army planes. Liberator heavy bombers (Consolidated B-24), Mitchell medium bombers (North American B-25), and Lightning and Warhawk fighters carried out these raids. Many hits were scored in the main camp and on the runway and hangar areas, causing numerous fires and explosions. One heavy bomber was shot down by enemy antiaircraft fire." Missing Air Crew Report 16219 (MACR 16219) was created retroactively circa 1945-1946 (Page 1) Incorrectly lists B-24 serial number "41-3970" [sic, 41-23970] (Page 2) "Plane shot down over Kiska Harbor, North American area. B-24 was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire over Kiska, Alaska. Plane fell in flames into water about 300 yards east of North Head. No one got out. Strafed by Jap guns in the water." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Don J. Gilliland American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald G. Walker American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Travis V. Hodges American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Julius Keller American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Grady W. Anglin American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John D. Helm American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold A. Swetland American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lonnie I. Sewell American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jes S. McArthur American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Stanley G. Harmon, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John V. Beulick FindAGrave - 1Lt Don Joseph Gilliland (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Donald George Walker (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Donald George Walker (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Travis Vestal Hodges (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Travis Vestal Hodges (photos, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Julius Keller (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Julius Keller (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt John DeWane “Johnny” Helm (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSGT John DeWane “Johnny” Helm (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Harold Alton Swetland (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Harold Alton Swetland (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Grady W Anglin (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Lonnie I Sewell (photos, news, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Jes Stuart McArthur (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp John V Beulick (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp John Virgil “Johnnie” Beulick (Buried or Lost at Sea) FindAGrave - Corp Stanley G Harmon Jr. (photo, courts of the missing photo) Thanks to David Schurhammer and Elizabeth Garcia for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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