[Col Bruggy]

Hello,

On February 10th (1942), Capt Strother led six b-17s from Jogjakarta to attack an aircraft carrier still reported in the Makassar Strait. Bad weather and insufficient fuel ended the mission. Three of the planes developed mechanical problems and the rest, who had already taken off, wasted too much fuel waiting for them. The next day, February 11th, the combat and maintenance crews were told they would be given 24 hours off from 1400 until 1430 for some badly needed rest, but then the 7th Group was notified to send what airplanes it had in commission to Malang, where they would be attached to the 19th Group for a mission (on) February 12th. That night, Lt Horace Wade and Richard Ezzard took off at 2235 and 2245 to search for and attack shipping off Makassar. Early the next morning, on one of the largest raids the V Bomber Command mounted out of Java, eight B-17s from the 7th Group (Capt. Strother led Capt. Hardison and Lts. Beck, Habberstad, Northcott, and Swanson) with three from the 19th went out to bomb shipping around Makassar, taking off between 0030 and 0220. One flight, with Lt. Northcott, Capt. Hardison, and Capt. F.M. Key from the 19th Group, claimed hits on a transport, but weather and darkness in the target area obscured the result. A few hours after the flight returned, Capt. Strother was found dead behind his quarters, having committed suicide with his .45 pistol*.

Strother's death had "a profoundly depressing effect" on the men at all bases**. Strother had been a flight leader, promoted for his abilities, with eight missions to his credit. Physical exhaustion from the constant effort, frustration with the lack of spare parts and adequate personnel, missions frustrated or cancelled by bad weather, and growing realization that all their efforts were having no effect on the Japanese increasingly demoralized the 7th and 19th Groups***.

* U.S Air Force Historical Study No.29: Study of Air Action in the Philippines and Netherlands East Indies 7th December 1941-26th March 1942, pp.171-190; "V Bomber Command Journal". The details of Captain Strother's suicide come from "S-3 Diary for the 7th Bombardment Group, December 1 1941-February 27 1942.

** Edmonds, They Fought With What They Had, p.337

*** Edmonds, They Fought With What They Had, p.334-37

See:
Death From Above The 7th Bombardment Group in World War II
Young,Edward M.
Atglen:Schiffer,2014.
p.86

Col.