On December 20, 1943, at 1150 Canton time, eight B-24s from the Canton Island based 392nd Bomb Squadron, staging through Baker Island took off on a strike mission against Taroa Island, Maloelap Atoll. Capt. Kenneth M. Brown was flying #42-72997 “Dead Eye” leading the squadron formation with Lt. Walter M. Ward flying #42-72990 ”Wingless Witch” on his right wing and Lt. Burl Justice in #42-73001, "Dog Patch", flew on the Captain’s left wing.

On approach to the bombing run the anti-aircraft was extremely accurate, breaking immediately at their level. Several bursts were heard to explode directly beneath their flight. Five enemy airplanes were attacking the flight simultaneously. A waist gunner called out on the interphone that Lt. Ward was on fire and others aboard observed that his #3 engine was on fire, a large hole in his right wing between #3 engine and fuselage, and a part of his right rudder was shot away.

Lt. Ward seemed to put out the fire momentarily, feathered the engine, and continued in formation through the bomb run. Four or five minutes later, the fire started again and Lt. Ward’s “Wingless Witch” was seen to descend in flames and crash into the sea approximately 15 miles west of Taroa on a bearing of 100º.

After leaving the target and witnessing the fiery plunge of #990, the formation had become a little mixed up. Lt. Justice in #001, the other stricken B-24 left his #3 position (left wing) in “A” flight and took up a position on the wing of Lt. White’s A/P #42-72991 “Incendiary Sue”; it was then that it was observed that a trail of black smoke was streaming from the #3 engine of Lt. Justice’s airplane. Lt. Justice continued to attempt to hold formation for approximately 15 minutes and then his #3 engine was seen to burst into flames again, seemed to diminish, then the entire nacelle was enveloped in fire. At this time his flying became more unsteady. Lt. Halsey in A/P # 42-73281 “Battling Hornet” had dropped in front of #001, causing Lt. Justice to pull up sharply to avoid him. He then put his A/P into a sweeping left turn, loosing altitude rapidly.

With his engine still burning, Lt. Justice was able to level out and let her down gradually until he was a few feet above the surface, He made a smooth water landing approximately 50-60 miles west of Taroa on a bearing of 100º. The plane remained afloat with the tail and wings visible. Several Zeroes were observed diving and strafing the downed bomber as the formation continued on it’s way back to base on Canton Island.

The remaining aircrews were witness to the loss of 18 men from the squadron on that day. The 11th group also suffered losses on the same day to the same target, Ditched was #41-24214 “Dogpatch Express” MACR #1423 with loss of 10 more crew and # 42-73154 “Belle of Texas was severely shot up and a month later salvaged as war weary / too battle damaged.

Members of the Ward crew were:

Walter M Ward (Pilot)

Edwin K Smith (Co-Pilot)

Emanuel J Stolbach (Navigator)

Robert O Wood (Bombardier)

William R Nenne (Engineer)

Vernon C Hobbs (Ass't Engineer)

James H Crisp (Radio Operator)

Allen F Tucker (Ass't Radio Operator)

Joseph E Logue (Tail Gunner)

Missions flown from Canton Island:

Date/Target: 22 Nov 1943 - Mille Atoll

Date/Target: 30 Nov 1943 - Taroa Island, Maleolap Atoll

Date/Target: 4 Dec 1943 - Mille Island

Date/Target: 13 Dec 1943 - Wotje Atoll

Date/Target: 15 Dec 1943 - Wotje Atoll

Date/Target: 20 Dec 1943 - Maleolap Atoll

Unit History of the 392nd Bombardment Squadron:

https://30thbombgroup.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/392.unit_.history.v02.pdf