5th BG losses ?

[Alex Smart]

In reguard to MACR 800. It would seem that the report is not very accurate.
The a/c involved was an LB-30, serial number AL589.
There were six crew and six passengers on board.
From the copy of a telegram to the pilots widow quote -
" He chose the most dangerous mission". Then later in a report for decoration of a posthumous Medal, "In the early part of June 1942, he anticipated an attempted Japanese raid on Midway Island and prepared a heavy bombardment task force to participate in the repulse of the raid and ultimate marked defeat of the Japanese attacking forces. In the final phase of this battle he personally took command of a flight on an attack mission of an extremely dangerous nature, and in the highest traditions of the service elected to execute the mission rather than detail it to a subordinate. This gallant officer and his entire crew, all of whome volunteered to participate in the mission with full knowledge of the nature thereof, were lost at sea".
This is at odds with the a/c being a transport a/c with passengers aboard.
It continues -
"Command pilot of a heavy bombardment aeroplane, participated in a night bombing mission against Wake Island, 6-7 June 1942, which demanded of its participants the highest degree of courage and airmanship".
Further -
" One of five B24's which were to have assembled at Midway Island for the purpose of flying to the Wake Island Area on a combat mission against the Japanese fleet.
Only three of the five planes succeeded in assembling and the three planes - took off in the general direction of Wake Island.
The take off was accomplished in the night time under orders for radio silence.
When the three planes were a short distance away from Midway Island (AL589) lost altitude and disappeared.
Officers of the other two planes were of the opinion that(AL589) "had spun into the water".
Findings of death date was given as 7 June 1943.

Was this LB-30 equipt with a dorsal turret ? Which would suggest that it was still possibly able to have had a bomb bay and was not fully converted to transport version ?
If this a/c was a transport I find it very odd that it was supposed to have been on a bombing mission. Especially whilst carrying passengers ?
My opinion is that there were five a/c due to take part in a transport mission and as two failed to get airborne those two crews were quickly transfered to two of the remaining three. Perhaps they were being transported from one Island base to another airbase to participate in a planned mission from the second base, hence these twelve airmen being in AL589 ?

Does anyone have details of crews and serial numbers of the other four a/c ???

Your thoughts please.

Alex