MAY, Howard Ray, Lieutenant Junior Grade, United States Navy Reserve, Service no. O-106186, Enl: California, MIA 05/03/1943, DD 10/12/1945

Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart

Parents, David and Myrtle May

Wife, Elizabeth Alice May, 1902 Halladay St., Santa Ana, Calif.

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PB4Y-1 Liberator Bureau Number 31947 Squadron Number 51-P-3

USN, VB-101 (Formally VP-51)

Crew:

Pilot  Lt(jg) Donald H. Lehman, O-146519 (MIA/KIA) San Diego, CA

Co-Pilot  Lt(jg) Howard R. May, O-106186 (MIA/KIA) Holtville, CA

Ensign Charles Edward Heintzelman Jr., O-157307 (MIA/KIA) Massillon, OH

Ensign Joseph F. Winters, O-125232 (MIA/KIA) Centerville, Illinois

AR1c Gerald T. Granat, 3822054 (MIA/KIA) Studio City, CA

AMM1c Fernando P. Spadoni, 2125324 (MIA/KIA) Hopedale, MA

AO2c Anthony N. Cortese, 2506452 (MIA/KIA) Dunbar, PA

AMM2c Arthur J. Valhusky, 3722907 (MIA/KIA) Rock Springs, WY

AMM2c William E. Webber , 2686058 (MIA/KIA) Lyons , GA

AR2c George C. Wilson, 4051004 (MIA/KIA) Oakly, NJ

AMM3c Hulin O. Moore, 3825595 (MIA/KIA) San Bernardino, CA

AO2c John J. Colby, 2240632 (MIA/KIA) New York, NY

MIA  March 5, 1943

Aircraft History

Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-15-CO Liberator serial number 41-24050. Assigned to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PB4Y-1 Liberator bureau number 31947. Assigned to VB-101 later redesignated VP-51.Squadron Number 51-P-3. No known nickname or nose art.

On January 13, 1943 took off piloted by Lt. Stuart T. Cooper with AMM2c James J. Curry plus six others on a flight that lasted 0.2 hours.

Mission History

On March 5, 1943 at 1:30am took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal piloted by Lt(jg) Donald H. Lehman as one of nine bombers on a mission to bomb Japanese shipping in Tonolei Harbor near Buin (Kahili) on southern Bougainville. Five PB4Y1s were armed with twenty flares each. The other four PB4Y-1s were armed with eight 500 pound bombs each.

Over the target, five with flares flew along the southern coast of Bougainville and released them from an altitude of 14,000' to 10,000' at half mile intervals to illuminate the area from Buin to Tonolei Harbor with each set to ignite at 3,000' to illuminated the area during 4:00am to 4:20am.

Meanwhile, the four with bombs made bomb runs over the illuminated area but failed to spot any ships. Although visibility was unrestricted, except for the darkness and a slight haze over southern coast of Bougainville, no Japanese ships were observed. Several searchlights switched on in the Buin to Kahili area and light anti-aircraft fire was noted.

Returning, two of the PB4Y-1 Liberators armed with bombs flew to Ballale Island to release their ordnance. One bombed the eastern end from 7,000'. The other bombed from 8,000' and missed with its bombs falling into the sea. During their attacks, a searchlight from Ballale Island came on and several bursts of anti-aircraft fire were observed.

When this bomber failed to return the entire crew was declared Missing In Action (MIA). Officially, this PB4Y-1 was stricken off charge (SOC) on March 26, 1943. Also lost was PB4Y-1 31948 (MIA) pilot Lt. Frank M. Fisler.

On the return flight, one of the PB4Y-1s that returned observed a large fire, with pieces falling off around 1,200' between Cape Esperance and the Russell Islands. Possibly, this was related to the loss of one or both the missing bombers. The other seven PB4Y-1s landed at Henderson Field between 6:15am to 7:00am.

Memorials

The crew was officially declared dead on December 10, 1945. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. The crew was also memorialized on memorial to Patrol Squadron VP 11/54/51, VB 101, PATSU 1-2 at Bomber 2 Airfield on Espiritu Santo.

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