[R Leonard]

VMSB-241 was the only US squadron which flew SB2U’s in actual combat. The squadron’s war diary for the period 1 June thru 30 June 1942 notes for 4 June 1942: “Six enemy fighters were shot down by our rear gunners and four more possible shot-downs are claimed.” (page 5) The report does not mention names.

The VMSB-241 report for the Battle of Midway notes

->In describing the SBD attack led Major Henderson: “During this time, four (4) enemy fighters were observed to go down in flames, shot by the rear gunners and it is believed that two more were probably shot down.”
->In describing the SB2U attack led by Major Norris: “Two (2) enemy fighters were shot down in this action and two (2) more believed to have been shot down.”

There is no mention of any particular individual as shooting down a Japanese fighter from either an SBD or and SB2U. Interesting that the total claims for shoot down come to six when SBD and SB2U claims are combined and similarly the probable shot downs total four. Thus coming to the six and four as described in the squadron war diary.

The MAG-22 report of the Midway action with regard to shoot-downs credited to VMSB-241 is a little different: “VMSB rear gunners report six (6) enemy 00 1 Sento K1 Fighters shot down with three (3) others badly damaged.” Have to smile at the early war creative nomenclature for the A6M2. No mention of exactly who claimed to have shot down an enemy fighter.

For what is is worth, the gunner for 2LT Sumner Whitten mentioned in the linked posting was SGT Frank Zelnis, USMC.