USAAF WW2
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. William Crooks MIA/KIA
Hometown: Arkansas
Squadron: 33rd 22nd Bomb Group
Service# 0-432968
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot Captain William A. Garnett MIA/KIA
Target: Lakunai Airdrome
Mission Date: 18-Apr-42
Serial Number: # 40-1400
Aircraft Model B-26
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause: Fighters
40-1400 Crew
Captain William A. Garnett Pilot
2nd/Lt. Frank A. Corts
2nd/Lt. Newell A. Wells
2nd/Lt. Newell A. Wells
2nd/Lt. William Crooks Bombardier
Cpl. Reese S. Davies
Cpl. Reese S. Davies
Sgt. Sanger Reed Gunner
Garnett's 22nd Bombardment Group flew B26 Marauder Bombers in combat in the South Pacific theater. Captain Garnett made his last flight On April 18th 1942. Garnett, and his squadron flew a strike to the Lakunai Airdrome and shipping base at Rabaul, successfully bombed and strafed grounded Japanese Zeros, bombers, moored flying boats. They additionally sank a 7,400-ton tanker, a 7,000-ton merchant vessel, and damaged another merchant vessel of 6,500-tons. As Lt. Kahle was leaving the target, the Zeros pursuing him peeled off and climbed to intercept Lt. Garnett's ship which was just beginning its bombing run. His ship was last seen entering a cloud over the target, trying to shake off the Zeros on its tail was a very courageous act, but ship and crew failed to return.
Later news has reached the Group that one of Garnetts crew, Sgt. Sanger Reed was a prisoner of war in Japan. After the lapse of one year prescribed by regulations, Captain Garnett and the rest of the crew were declared KIA.
As to what actually happened on the flight of April 18, 1942, the facts eventually were been told by Sgt. Sanger Reed, tail gunner on Captain Garnett's bomber, who was captured and a prisoner in Japan until liberated in September, 1945. His statement is as follows:
"We were operating out of Townsville, Australia. We were scheduled to bomb Rabaul, New Britain. We took off on April 18, 1942, and flew by Port Moresby to refuel. On the morning of April 18, when takeoff time came, we could not get our engines started so the rest of the flight took off without us. We knew the planes were going to circle and come in from the north, and we thought that if we came straight in from the south that we could reach Rabaul at about the same time. But, unfortunately, we were a little late. We met the last one of our planes coming out of Rabaul with two Zeros on his tail, and when the Zeros saw us alone, they turned over and dived on us, and in their run one of them got our right engine and set it on fire.
"I was tail gunner and the radio man crawled back and told me to bail out. As I bailed out my chute got caught, but by the help of the radio man and the terrific wind I was forced clear of the ship, and I pulled the rip cord and floated down safely to earth. Coming down I saw our ship blow up, and five of our crew of seven go down with it. After landing I was captured by the Japs, and was confined in prisons in Japan until rescued on September 5th, 1945."
Sgt. Sanger relates how he was captured on the ground in New Britain and only mentions the plane exploding not saying either over land or sea. All of the deceased crew appear tablets of the missing in Manilla none were ever recovered or identified, it is unclear if the ship exploded over the sea.
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. William Crooks MIA/KIA
Hometown: Arkansas
Squadron: 33rd 22nd Bomb Group
Service# 0-432968
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot Captain William A. Garnett MIA/KIA
Target: Lakunai Airdrome
Mission Date: 18-Apr-42
Serial Number: # 40-1400
Aircraft Model B-26
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause: Fighters
40-1400 Crew
Captain William A. Garnett Pilot
2nd/Lt. Frank A. Corts
2nd/Lt. Newell A. Wells
2nd/Lt. Newell A. Wells
2nd/Lt. William Crooks Bombardier
Cpl. Reese S. Davies
Cpl. Reese S. Davies
Sgt. Sanger Reed Gunner
Garnett's 22nd Bombardment Group flew B26 Marauder Bombers in combat in the South Pacific theater. Captain Garnett made his last flight On April 18th 1942. Garnett, and his squadron flew a strike to the Lakunai Airdrome and shipping base at Rabaul, successfully bombed and strafed grounded Japanese Zeros, bombers, moored flying boats. They additionally sank a 7,400-ton tanker, a 7,000-ton merchant vessel, and damaged another merchant vessel of 6,500-tons. As Lt. Kahle was leaving the target, the Zeros pursuing him peeled off and climbed to intercept Lt. Garnett's ship which was just beginning its bombing run. His ship was last seen entering a cloud over the target, trying to shake off the Zeros on its tail was a very courageous act, but ship and crew failed to return.
Later news has reached the Group that one of Garnetts crew, Sgt. Sanger Reed was a prisoner of war in Japan. After the lapse of one year prescribed by regulations, Captain Garnett and the rest of the crew were declared KIA.
As to what actually happened on the flight of April 18, 1942, the facts eventually were been told by Sgt. Sanger Reed, tail gunner on Captain Garnett's bomber, who was captured and a prisoner in Japan until liberated in September, 1945. His statement is as follows:
"We were operating out of Townsville, Australia. We were scheduled to bomb Rabaul, New Britain. We took off on April 18, 1942, and flew by Port Moresby to refuel. On the morning of April 18, when takeoff time came, we could not get our engines started so the rest of the flight took off without us. We knew the planes were going to circle and come in from the north, and we thought that if we came straight in from the south that we could reach Rabaul at about the same time. But, unfortunately, we were a little late. We met the last one of our planes coming out of Rabaul with two Zeros on his tail, and when the Zeros saw us alone, they turned over and dived on us, and in their run one of them got our right engine and set it on fire.
"I was tail gunner and the radio man crawled back and told me to bail out. As I bailed out my chute got caught, but by the help of the radio man and the terrific wind I was forced clear of the ship, and I pulled the rip cord and floated down safely to earth. Coming down I saw our ship blow up, and five of our crew of seven go down with it. After landing I was captured by the Japs, and was confined in prisons in Japan until rescued on September 5th, 1945."
Sgt. Sanger relates how he was captured on the ground in New Britain and only mentions the plane exploding not saying either over land or sea. All of the deceased crew appear tablets of the missing in Manilla none were ever recovered or identified, it is unclear if the ship exploded over the sea.
USAAF WW2
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. William Crooks MIA/KIA
Hometown: Arkansas
Squadron: 33rd 22nd Bomb Group
Service# 0-432968
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot Captain William A. Garnett MIA/KIA
Target: Lakunai Airdrome
Mission Date: 18-Apr-42
Serial Number: # 40-1400
Aircraft Model B-26
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause: Fighters
40-1400 Crew
Captain William A. Garnett Pilot
2nd/Lt. Frank A. Corts
2nd/Lt. Newell A. Wells
2nd/Lt. Newell A. Wells
2nd/Lt. William Crooks Bombardier
Cpl. Reese S. Davies
Cpl. Reese S. Davies
Sgt. Sanger Reed Gunner
Garnett's 22nd Bombardment Group flew B26 Marauder Bombers in combat in the South Pacific theater. Captain Garnett made his last flight On April 18th 1942. Garnett, and his squadron flew a strike to the Lakunai Airdrome and shipping base at Rabaul, successfully bombed and strafed grounded Japanese Zeros, bombers, moored flying boats. They additionally sank a 7,400-ton tanker, a 7,000-ton merchant vessel, and damaged another merchant vessel of 6,500-tons. As Lt. Kahle was leaving the target, the Zeros pursuing him peeled off and climbed to intercept Lt. Garnett's ship which was just beginning its bombing run. His ship was last seen entering a cloud over the target, trying to shake off the Zeros on its tail was a very courageous act, but ship and crew failed to return.
Later news has reached the Group that one of Garnetts crew, Sgt. Sanger Reed was a prisoner of war in Japan. After the lapse of one year prescribed by regulations, Captain Garnett and the rest of the crew were declared KIA.
As to what actually happened on the flight of April 18, 1942, the facts eventually were been told by Sgt. Sanger Reed, tail gunner on Captain Garnett's bomber, who was captured and a prisoner in Japan until liberated in September, 1945. His statement is as follows:
"We were operating out of Townsville, Australia. We were scheduled to bomb Rabaul, New Britain. We took off on April 18, 1942, and flew by Port Moresby to refuel. On the morning of April 18, when takeoff time came, we could not get our engines started so the rest of the flight took off without us. We knew the planes were going to circle and come in from the north, and we thought that if we came straight in from the south that we could reach Rabaul at about the same time. But, unfortunately, we were a little late. We met the last one of our planes coming out of Rabaul with two Zeros on his tail, and when the Zeros saw us alone, they turned over and dived on us, and in their run one of them got our right engine and set it on fire.
"I was tail gunner and the radio man crawled back and told me to bail out. As I bailed out my chute got caught, but by the help of the radio man and the terrific wind I was forced clear of the ship, and I pulled the rip cord and floated down safely to earth. Coming down I saw our ship blow up, and five of our crew of seven go down with it. After landing I was captured by the Japs, and was confined in prisons in Japan until rescued on September 5th, 1945."
Sgt. Sanger relates how he was captured on the ground in New Britain and only mentions the plane exploding not saying either over land or sea. All of the deceased crew appear tablets of the missing in Manilla none were ever recovered or identified, it is unclear if the ship exploded over the sea.
Bombardier 2nd/Lt. William Crooks MIA/KIA
Hometown: Arkansas
Squadron: 33rd 22nd Bomb Group
Service# 0-432968
Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot Captain William A. Garnett MIA/KIA
Target: Lakunai Airdrome
Mission Date: 18-Apr-42
Serial Number: # 40-1400
Aircraft Model B-26
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name:
Location:
Cause: Fighters
40-1400 Crew
Captain William A. Garnett Pilot
2nd/Lt. Frank A. Corts
2nd/Lt. Newell A. Wells
2nd/Lt. Newell A. Wells
2nd/Lt. William Crooks Bombardier
Cpl. Reese S. Davies
Cpl. Reese S. Davies
Sgt. Sanger Reed Gunner
Garnett's 22nd Bombardment Group flew B26 Marauder Bombers in combat in the South Pacific theater. Captain Garnett made his last flight On April 18th 1942. Garnett, and his squadron flew a strike to the Lakunai Airdrome and shipping base at Rabaul, successfully bombed and strafed grounded Japanese Zeros, bombers, moored flying boats. They additionally sank a 7,400-ton tanker, a 7,000-ton merchant vessel, and damaged another merchant vessel of 6,500-tons. As Lt. Kahle was leaving the target, the Zeros pursuing him peeled off and climbed to intercept Lt. Garnett's ship which was just beginning its bombing run. His ship was last seen entering a cloud over the target, trying to shake off the Zeros on its tail was a very courageous act, but ship and crew failed to return.
Later news has reached the Group that one of Garnetts crew, Sgt. Sanger Reed was a prisoner of war in Japan. After the lapse of one year prescribed by regulations, Captain Garnett and the rest of the crew were declared KIA.
As to what actually happened on the flight of April 18, 1942, the facts eventually were been told by Sgt. Sanger Reed, tail gunner on Captain Garnett's bomber, who was captured and a prisoner in Japan until liberated in September, 1945. His statement is as follows:
"We were operating out of Townsville, Australia. We were scheduled to bomb Rabaul, New Britain. We took off on April 18, 1942, and flew by Port Moresby to refuel. On the morning of April 18, when takeoff time came, we could not get our engines started so the rest of the flight took off without us. We knew the planes were going to circle and come in from the north, and we thought that if we came straight in from the south that we could reach Rabaul at about the same time. But, unfortunately, we were a little late. We met the last one of our planes coming out of Rabaul with two Zeros on his tail, and when the Zeros saw us alone, they turned over and dived on us, and in their run one of them got our right engine and set it on fire.
"I was tail gunner and the radio man crawled back and told me to bail out. As I bailed out my chute got caught, but by the help of the radio man and the terrific wind I was forced clear of the ship, and I pulled the rip cord and floated down safely to earth. Coming down I saw our ship blow up, and five of our crew of seven go down with it. After landing I was captured by the Japs, and was confined in prisons in Japan until rescued on September 5th, 1945."
Sgt. Sanger relates how he was captured on the ground in New Britain and only mentions the plane exploding not saying either over land or sea. All of the deceased crew appear tablets of the missing in Manilla none were ever recovered or identified, it is unclear if the ship exploded over the sea.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Arkansas.
Family Members
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