41-9090 The SOONER
Photo courtesy of the Citadel Archives and Museum, Charleston, South Carolina (from https://www.thecitadelmemorialeurope.org/john-bernard-mayes-class-of-1940/ )
Photo courtesy of the Citadel Archives and Museum, Charleston, South Carolina (from https://www.thecitadelmemorialeurope.org/john-bernard-mayes-class-of-19… )
Object Number - UPL 30530 - John Bernard Mayes Jr. Photo courtesy of the Citadel Archives and Museum, Charleston, South Carolina (from...
Delivered MacDill 11 April 1942. Assigned 342BS/97BG Sarasota 26 April 1942. Presque Isle 29 May 1942. Flying from Goose Bay to Bluie West One at Narsarsuaq, Greenland on 27 June 1942 in foggy weather, with the impossibility to make radio contact and a too low gas supply, the Fortress had to ditch near an island in Narsarsuaq Fjord, near Narsaq, in 1500ft of water, 35 miles SW of Bluie West One, Greenland. With Major Herbert C. Chambers on board, the pilot was John C. Nichols; Co-pilot: John B. Mayes Jr; Navigator: William M. Dorsett; Bombardier: Paul A. Blaida; Asst. Bombardier: Edward B. Weathers; Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Clarence B. Nichols; Radio Operator: Frank Val Alstine (?); Waist Gunner William M. Ivanhoff; Waist Gunner Frederick M. Wilson. The two passengers were Grover C. Williams and Thomas G. Burton (12 Returned to Duty).
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 6147552
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18051921 at enlistment, then O-436529
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34249492
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
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Revisions
My grandfather’s name was misspelled. The entry read, “Hubert C. Chambers;” his name was Herbert C. Chambers.