Crew #13
Crew of 13th Aircraft Plane # 40-2247 - "The Avenger" -Crew from 37th Squadron, 17th Group - (Bail Out)
Despite heavy anti-aircraft fire Lieutenant McElroy and crew attacked the Yokosuka Naval Base to bomb enemy shipping and supplies. One Japanese ship took a direct hit and was seen to fall over on its side, and a second was sheathed in flames when the B25 continued west toward China. It was later determined that one of the ships damaged was a submarine tender being converted to the light aircraft carrier Ryuho. The damage contributed to the delay of the conversion of nearly a year. The crew successfully bailed out over land and the only injury was a wrenched knee suffered by Sergeant Williams. The crew arrived at Chuhshei three days later thanks to help from local friendly Chinese. The entire crew remained in Indo-China to fly missions for more than a year, and all five crew members survived the war despite an enviable record of combat missions.
Pilot Lt. E.E. McElroy
Co-Pilot Lt. R.A. Knobloch
Navigator Lt. C.J. Campbell
Bombardier Sgt. R.C. Bourgeois
Engineer Gunner Sgt. A.R. Williams
(Photo courtesy of Ryan Short)
Bourgeois
Robert C. Bourgeois, 7000417, Flight Officer
Campbell
Clayton J. Campbell, 0-419327, Lieutenant Colonel
Knobloch
Richard A. "Knobby" Knobloch, Brigadier General
McElroy
Edgar E. McElroy, 0-421122, Lieutenant Colonel