W45AUTH\KB28P-KIA.DOC
Ben Kordus Crew, June 26, 1945, in M-13 [I believe] taken from Van Parkers
airplane M-12
F/O Harold L. Blake Sr, F/O
Edwin I Kushner, 2nd Lt Albin C. Baltrus, 1st Lt Philip
B. DeFrates, Capt Benjamin G. Kordus
Crew #32 as of
Feb 28 1945
Sixth 28th Sqd Crew Lost Rammed,
down in flames 06-26-45 raid on Kagamigahara
|
Duty |
Rank |
Name |
ASN |
MOS |
Home, 1945 |
|
AC |
1st Lt |
Kordus, Benjamin G. |
0-792611 |
1093 |
|
|
P |
2nd Lt |
DeFrates, Phillip D. |
0-831136 |
1091 |
|
|
N |
F/O |
Blake, Harold L Jr |
T-128429 |
1038 |
|
|
B |
F/O |
Kushner, Edwin I. |
T-5571 |
1035 |
|
|
RO |
2nd Lt |
Baltrus, Albine C. |
0-2065701 |
0142 |
|
|
FE |
Cpl |
McCord, James B. |
16078854 |
737 |
|
|
R |
Cpl |
Valmont, Lamar H. |
13145717 |
2756 |
|
|
CFC |
Cpl |
Benuska, Frank J. |
36902948 |
580 |
|
|
RG |
Cpl |
Harkins, Dudley T. |
31448535 |
611 |
|
|
LG |
Cpl |
Gaffney, Robert |
31431913 |
611 |
|
|
TG |
Cpl |
Shelters, Lester J. |
36877137 |
611 |
|
Yasuo Kumoi in a letter dated 12-2-93, mailed from Japan,
provided information that Cpl Lester J Shelters had survived the crash and was
taken to Nagoya where he was later executed.
See
F Maupin and V Parkers comments on Kordus
***** O *****
Yasuo indicates two parachuted and were sent to
Nagoya. None of the crew members names
are in the Association. It could well be that none survived to come home.
The crew members were: Capt B. Kordus Airplane Comdr, 1st
Lt P. DeFrates CoPilot, F/O H. Blake Jr Navigator, F/O E. Kushner Bombardier,
2nd Lt A. Baltrus RadarOperator, T/Sgt J. McCord Flt Engr, S/Sgt L. Valmont
Radio, T/Sgt F. Benuska Central Fire Control, S/Sgt D. Harkins RtGunner, S/Sgt
R. Gaffney LtGunner, S/Sgt L. Shelters Tail Gunner.
---------O--------
Yasuo Kumoi Sept 8, 1993
153-2, Akogimachi
Tsu-Shi, Mie-Ken
Japan 514
Dear Mr Darrel W. Landau,
Thank you very much for having located the officer's
names of the rammed B-29. I do really appreciate your help.
The air combat took place in the perfecture where I live.
The ramming pilot was second Lt. Yutaka Nakagawa of the 56 fighters regiment,
Army. He flied a Japanese Army fighter "Tony". He dived and rammed
the B-29. He was 24 years old. Eleven American officers were on the B-29. Nine
were killed. Two parachuted and were sent to Nagoya.
I plan to erect a memorial for the U.S. officers to pray
their soul will rest in peace forever. The memorial for second Lt Nakagawa was
erected about fifteen years ago.
If you have some pictures of the U.S. officers, would you
please let me have them?
Do you know where their families live now? I'd like to
tell them how the incident took place and my intention to build the memorial.
Thank you very much again for your help.
Sincerely
Yasuo Kumoi
Fig 1 According to 20th AF records, the target
was the Kawasaki AC plant at Kagamigahara
It was a Daylight raid with 12,100 lb of General Purpose
500 lb bombs dropped from 16,000 feet. There were 35 airborne aircraft from the
314th wing, 3 aborted and 1 (Kordus) was lost. 24 Japanese fighters were
sighted, with 7 reported attacks. Gunners reported 9 destroyed, 1 probable and
2 damaged.
Those airborne included Parker, Maupin, Kordus,
Readheimer, Rowe, Ambrose, Long, Gammel, Randoph, Robinson, Stevens, ......
Fig 2 Tony fighter of the type used for the ramming