Operation PLUM: The Ill-fated 27th Bombardment Group and the Fight for the Western Pacific

Appendix 2: Royce’s Raid Crews

The original list was kept by William G. Hipps, who participated in the raid, and edited years later under the supervision of J. Harrison Mangan. Same names for B-25 pilots and copilots appear in the 27th Reports. The names of other crew members are known, but the plane each flew on cannot be verified. Former 27th Bomb Group Members in Italics Names in brackets are variant spellings found on Hipps’s list. Appendix 2 Royce’s Raid Crews B-C Ship 41-12483 13th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group Davies Flight—Valencia (P) Lt. Col. John H. Davies (CP) st Lt. James B. McAfee (N) Lt. William C. Clapp (B) Capt. Ronald D. Hubbard (E) Technical Sergeant Young (G) Cpl. Robert M. Newman (G) Sergeant Hayes Passengers—Del Monte to Batchelor Field Brig. Gen. Ralph E. Royce (Mission Commander) Lt. Col. William C. Kennard [Kinard] (USAAF, M.C.) Nat Floyd (Civilian Reporter) B-C Ship 41-12441 13th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group Davies Flight—Valencia (P) Capt. Herman F. Lowery (C.O., 13th Sqdn.) (CP) nd Lt. Leland A. Walker (N) 1st Lt. Joseph M. Bean (B) TSgt. William B. Wherry (E) Cpl. Hodges K. Rigdon [Regan] (G) Noah Fresquez (G) Sgt. David H. Runnager Passengers (Del Monte to Batchelor Field) Sgt. Edward Van Every (G, 41-2447) Capt. Jesus Villiamor (Philippine Army Air Corps) Lieutenant Thompson (unknown) B-C Ship 41-12442 13th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group Davies Flight—Valencia (P) st Lt. Gustave M. Heiss (CP) nd Lt. Edwin C. Townsend (N) Lt. John Bevan (B) Sgt. Marlon K. Smith (E) TSgt. Henry S. Simpers [Snipers] (G) Sgt. James W. Miller (G) Sgt. Lionel G. Young Passengers (Del Monte to Batchelor Field) Lt. Thomas P. Gerrity (USAAF) Royce’s Raid Crews 299 Leander (Enlisted Man, Signal Corps) Sgt. Arthur Komori (USA, Nisei, Interpreter) The only bomber not lost within a year after the raid, it is currently on display in Aitape, New Guinea. B-C Ship 41-12455 90th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group Davies Flight—Valencia (P) 1st Lt. Bennett G. Wilson (C.O., 90th Sqdn.) (CP) 2nd Lt. John J. Keeter (N) Lt. E. T. Tisonyai (B) TSgt. Luther D. Word (E) SSgt. Kenneth W. Gatewood [Wood] (G) Sgt. Jimmy D. Morse (actually spelled “Morris”) (G) Cpl. Stephen L. Taylor (Flight Chief) MSgt. Firman S. Adams Passengers (Del Monte to Batchelor Field) Cpl. Richard E. Nurss (USA Signal Corps) Lt. E. D. Benham (USAAF) Lieutenant Burke (Unknown) B-C Ship 41-12485 90th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group Davies Flight—Valencia (P) Capt Paul I. “Pappy” Gunn (C.O., ATC. Archerfield) (CP) st Lt. Frank Bender (E) “Midgett” (probably Jack Fox) (G) SSgt. Arnold M. Thompson (G) Pfc. Joseph A. Paradiso [Paradise] (No Navigator, No Bombardier) Passengers (Del Monte to Batchelor Field) Capt. Henry G. Thorne (C.O., 3rd Sqdn., 24th Pursuit Group) TSgt. Eustace M. Messor (USA, Signal Corps) Lt. L. H. Keys (USAAF) Lieutenant Cox (Unknown) Sergeant Jefferies (Stowaway) th Reports records the ship’s number as 41-12498. B-C Ship 41-12480 13th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group Strickland Flight—Maramag (P) 1st Lt. Robert F. Strickland (CP) Maj. William G. Hipps (Asst. Ops. & Plans O./USAFIA Staff) (N) Lieutenant Brindel (19th Bomb Group) (B) TSgt. George H. Bengel [Bengal] (E) SSgt. William R. Crutchfield (G) Sgt. Kenneth A. Cooper (G) Pfc. Arthur J. White Passengers (Del Monte to Batchelor Field) Pfc. Clyde L. Horn (AR, 41-2447) Clarence Yamagata (Nisei, Interpreter) Capt. Harvey Whitfield (USAAF) B-C Ship 41-12443 13th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group Strickland Flight—Maramag (P) st Lt. James R. Smith (CP) 2nd Lt. Thomas P. Talley (N) Lieutenant Grant (B) MSgt. Ray A. Oliver (E) TSgt. Aden L. Simmons (G) Sgt. Guy E. Clanton A P P E N D I X 2 300 (G) Cpl. Alfred A. Fawe [Fall] Passengers (Del Monte to Batchelor Field) Pfc.HerbertM.Wheatley(AE,41-2447) Lt. Col. Chih Wang [Chi Wong] (Chinese Army Liaison) Lt. Jack Wienert (USAAF) B-C Ship 41-12511 13th Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group Strickland flight—Maramag (P) 2nd Lt. Harold V. Maull [Maul] (CP) 2nd Lt. Howard B. West (N) Lt. William Culp (B) Sgt. O. C. Cook (E) SSgt. Cyril A. Moore (G) Cpl. Francis H. Pryor (G) Pfc. Francis M. Fowler Passengers (Del Monte to Batchelor Field) Kimple (Enlisted Man) Lieutenant Arter (Unknown) Lt. David M. Conley (USAAF) B-C...