Gunner Cpl. Irving Topp KIA
Hometown:
Squadron: 578th 494th Bomb Group
Service# 12177268
Awards:
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Glenn R. Custer KIA
Target: Koror Island (Oreor) Republic of Palau (Belau)
MACR 14351
Mission Date: 4-May-45
Serial Number: # 44-42058
Aircraft Model B-24M
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "Brief"
Location: The wreckage landed just off shore south of Koror
Cause: AA FLAK Crew of 11 10KIA 1POW Executed
"Brief" Crew
2nd/Lt. Glenn R. Custer Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Glenn R. Custer Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Irving R. Brown Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Wallace F. Kaufman Navigator POW Executed
2nd/Lt. Norbert J. Giese Bombardier KIA
Sgt. Richard E. Grimes Engineer KIA
T/Sgt James F. Tenney Radio Op. KIA
Cpl. Victor B. Wilson Gunner KIA
Cpl. Irving Topp Gunner KIA
Cpl. Robert N. Shillenn Gunner KIA
Cpl. Albin Rynkiewicz Gunner KIA
Sgt. Floyd Collins Bennett Passenger KIA
Mission History-
Took off from Angaur Airfield flying in the #4 position on a bombing mission against anti-aircraft installations on Koror. Over the target, while on the bomb run, this B-24 was hit by anti-aircraft fire between the inboard #2 engine and fuselage, causing the left wing to fold, then break off. The fuselage fell in a flat spiral until it crashed.
Fates of the Crew-
Declared dead the day of the mission, the entire crew was killed in the crash, with the exception of Kaufman. He was captured by the Japanese and executed.
Search-
After the crash a US Navy PBY Catalina attempted a search, but the site was in close proximity to enemy installations and could not get close enough to search.
Wreckage-
The wreckage landed just off shore and the wing into shallow water south of Koror at roughly 7° 20' N 134° 29' E, and remains 'in situ' to this day. Some of the wreckage is on Iberor Island. The left wing of this bomber was identified by Pat Scannon in 1994 on the top of a small island about a mile from the wing of B-24J 44-40603.
Film footage appearing in "Mission to Koror and Arakabesan, Palau Islands" and a photograph record this B-24 hit and falling earthward. Also, several crew members aboard other B-24s witness the crash.
Pat Scannon adds:
"In '01, working with Professor Donald Shuster and his wife at the University of Guam, we located his executioner in Japan and I was able to interview him there - quite an experience. [This interview is included in the documentary Last Flight Home]. None of these executed airmen's remains, except for LT Kaufman, have yet been found.
Aircraft History-
Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Assigned to the 7th Air Force, 494th Bombardment Group, 867th Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed. When lost, engines R-1830-65 serial number 45-5366, 45-5448, 45-5918, 45-5304. The bomber's 50 caliber machine gun serial numbers: 1665019, 1415253, 1266567, 1266886, 1540482, 1052918, 1220912, 1220827, 1266615, 1221313.
Hometown:
Squadron: 578th 494th Bomb Group
Service# 12177268
Awards:
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Glenn R. Custer KIA
Target: Koror Island (Oreor) Republic of Palau (Belau)
MACR 14351
Mission Date: 4-May-45
Serial Number: # 44-42058
Aircraft Model B-24M
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "Brief"
Location: The wreckage landed just off shore south of Koror
Cause: AA FLAK Crew of 11 10KIA 1POW Executed
"Brief" Crew
2nd/Lt. Glenn R. Custer Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Glenn R. Custer Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Irving R. Brown Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Wallace F. Kaufman Navigator POW Executed
2nd/Lt. Norbert J. Giese Bombardier KIA
Sgt. Richard E. Grimes Engineer KIA
T/Sgt James F. Tenney Radio Op. KIA
Cpl. Victor B. Wilson Gunner KIA
Cpl. Irving Topp Gunner KIA
Cpl. Robert N. Shillenn Gunner KIA
Cpl. Albin Rynkiewicz Gunner KIA
Sgt. Floyd Collins Bennett Passenger KIA
Mission History-
Took off from Angaur Airfield flying in the #4 position on a bombing mission against anti-aircraft installations on Koror. Over the target, while on the bomb run, this B-24 was hit by anti-aircraft fire between the inboard #2 engine and fuselage, causing the left wing to fold, then break off. The fuselage fell in a flat spiral until it crashed.
Fates of the Crew-
Declared dead the day of the mission, the entire crew was killed in the crash, with the exception of Kaufman. He was captured by the Japanese and executed.
Search-
After the crash a US Navy PBY Catalina attempted a search, but the site was in close proximity to enemy installations and could not get close enough to search.
Wreckage-
The wreckage landed just off shore and the wing into shallow water south of Koror at roughly 7° 20' N 134° 29' E, and remains 'in situ' to this day. Some of the wreckage is on Iberor Island. The left wing of this bomber was identified by Pat Scannon in 1994 on the top of a small island about a mile from the wing of B-24J 44-40603.
Film footage appearing in "Mission to Koror and Arakabesan, Palau Islands" and a photograph record this B-24 hit and falling earthward. Also, several crew members aboard other B-24s witness the crash.
Pat Scannon adds:
"In '01, working with Professor Donald Shuster and his wife at the University of Guam, we located his executioner in Japan and I was able to interview him there - quite an experience. [This interview is included in the documentary Last Flight Home]. None of these executed airmen's remains, except for LT Kaufman, have yet been found.
Aircraft History-
Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Assigned to the 7th Air Force, 494th Bombardment Group, 867th Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed. When lost, engines R-1830-65 serial number 45-5366, 45-5448, 45-5918, 45-5304. The bomber's 50 caliber machine gun serial numbers: 1665019, 1415253, 1266567, 1266886, 1540482, 1052918, 1220912, 1220827, 1266615, 1221313.
Gunner Cpl. Irving Topp KIA
Hometown:
Squadron: 578th 494th Bomb Group
Service# 12177268
Awards:
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Glenn R. Custer KIA
Target: Koror Island (Oreor) Republic of Palau (Belau)
MACR 14351
Mission Date: 4-May-45
Serial Number: # 44-42058
Aircraft Model B-24M
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "Brief"
Location: The wreckage landed just off shore south of Koror
Cause: AA FLAK Crew of 11 10KIA 1POW Executed
"Brief" Crew
2nd/Lt. Glenn R. Custer Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Glenn R. Custer Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Irving R. Brown Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Wallace F. Kaufman Navigator POW Executed
2nd/Lt. Norbert J. Giese Bombardier KIA
Sgt. Richard E. Grimes Engineer KIA
T/Sgt James F. Tenney Radio Op. KIA
Cpl. Victor B. Wilson Gunner KIA
Cpl. Irving Topp Gunner KIA
Cpl. Robert N. Shillenn Gunner KIA
Cpl. Albin Rynkiewicz Gunner KIA
Sgt. Floyd Collins Bennett Passenger KIA
Mission History-
Took off from Angaur Airfield flying in the #4 position on a bombing mission against anti-aircraft installations on Koror. Over the target, while on the bomb run, this B-24 was hit by anti-aircraft fire between the inboard #2 engine and fuselage, causing the left wing to fold, then break off. The fuselage fell in a flat spiral until it crashed.
Fates of the Crew-
Declared dead the day of the mission, the entire crew was killed in the crash, with the exception of Kaufman. He was captured by the Japanese and executed.
Search-
After the crash a US Navy PBY Catalina attempted a search, but the site was in close proximity to enemy installations and could not get close enough to search.
Wreckage-
The wreckage landed just off shore and the wing into shallow water south of Koror at roughly 7° 20' N 134° 29' E, and remains 'in situ' to this day. Some of the wreckage is on Iberor Island. The left wing of this bomber was identified by Pat Scannon in 1994 on the top of a small island about a mile from the wing of B-24J 44-40603.
Film footage appearing in "Mission to Koror and Arakabesan, Palau Islands" and a photograph record this B-24 hit and falling earthward. Also, several crew members aboard other B-24s witness the crash.
Pat Scannon adds:
"In '01, working with Professor Donald Shuster and his wife at the University of Guam, we located his executioner in Japan and I was able to interview him there - quite an experience. [This interview is included in the documentary Last Flight Home]. None of these executed airmen's remains, except for LT Kaufman, have yet been found.
Aircraft History-
Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Assigned to the 7th Air Force, 494th Bombardment Group, 867th Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed. When lost, engines R-1830-65 serial number 45-5366, 45-5448, 45-5918, 45-5304. The bomber's 50 caliber machine gun serial numbers: 1665019, 1415253, 1266567, 1266886, 1540482, 1052918, 1220912, 1220827, 1266615, 1221313.
Hometown:
Squadron: 578th 494th Bomb Group
Service# 12177268
Awards:
Pilot 2nd/Lt. Glenn R. Custer KIA
Target: Koror Island (Oreor) Republic of Palau (Belau)
MACR 14351
Mission Date: 4-May-45
Serial Number: # 44-42058
Aircraft Model B-24M
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "Brief"
Location: The wreckage landed just off shore south of Koror
Cause: AA FLAK Crew of 11 10KIA 1POW Executed
"Brief" Crew
2nd/Lt. Glenn R. Custer Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Glenn R. Custer Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Irving R. Brown Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Wallace F. Kaufman Navigator POW Executed
2nd/Lt. Norbert J. Giese Bombardier KIA
Sgt. Richard E. Grimes Engineer KIA
T/Sgt James F. Tenney Radio Op. KIA
Cpl. Victor B. Wilson Gunner KIA
Cpl. Irving Topp Gunner KIA
Cpl. Robert N. Shillenn Gunner KIA
Cpl. Albin Rynkiewicz Gunner KIA
Sgt. Floyd Collins Bennett Passenger KIA
Mission History-
Took off from Angaur Airfield flying in the #4 position on a bombing mission against anti-aircraft installations on Koror. Over the target, while on the bomb run, this B-24 was hit by anti-aircraft fire between the inboard #2 engine and fuselage, causing the left wing to fold, then break off. The fuselage fell in a flat spiral until it crashed.
Fates of the Crew-
Declared dead the day of the mission, the entire crew was killed in the crash, with the exception of Kaufman. He was captured by the Japanese and executed.
Search-
After the crash a US Navy PBY Catalina attempted a search, but the site was in close proximity to enemy installations and could not get close enough to search.
Wreckage-
The wreckage landed just off shore and the wing into shallow water south of Koror at roughly 7° 20' N 134° 29' E, and remains 'in situ' to this day. Some of the wreckage is on Iberor Island. The left wing of this bomber was identified by Pat Scannon in 1994 on the top of a small island about a mile from the wing of B-24J 44-40603.
Film footage appearing in "Mission to Koror and Arakabesan, Palau Islands" and a photograph record this B-24 hit and falling earthward. Also, several crew members aboard other B-24s witness the crash.
Pat Scannon adds:
"In '01, working with Professor Donald Shuster and his wife at the University of Guam, we located his executioner in Japan and I was able to interview him there - quite an experience. [This interview is included in the documentary Last Flight Home]. None of these executed airmen's remains, except for LT Kaufman, have yet been found.
Aircraft History-
Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Assigned to the 7th Air Force, 494th Bombardment Group, 867th Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed. When lost, engines R-1830-65 serial number 45-5366, 45-5448, 45-5918, 45-5304. The bomber's 50 caliber machine gun serial numbers: 1665019, 1415253, 1266567, 1266886, 1540482, 1052918, 1220912, 1220827, 1266615, 1221313.
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Advertisement
