S/Sgt Adelbert L Laing was the Top Turret Gunner in the Knudson flight crew. The Knudson crew did most of their training in the US before joining the 819th Bombardment Squadron in Apr 1944. They moved with the 819th BS to Saipan in Aug 1944 and began combat operations. They completed their required 40 missions in Jan 1945, and returned to the US for rest and re-assignment.

Members of the Knudson flight crew were:

Arthur M Knudson (Pilot)

Harry B Halperin (Co-Pilot)

Edward J Tivenan (Navigator)

Floyd B McGuire (Bombardier)

Patsy R Puglio (Engineer)

John P Breen (Radio Operator)

Michael J Esposito (Right Waist Gunner)

Adelbert L Laing (Top Turret Gunner)

John H Mahoney (Nose Gunner)

Michael H Martynec (Gunner)

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Evening_star_1944_Nov_26_page_50:

A 7th A. A. F. HEAVY BOMBER BASE IN THE MARIANAS,—It was the twenty-second combat mission for Tech. Sergt. John P. Breen of 34 K street N.W., a tail gunner, when his Liberator bomber Liberty Belle was Intercepted by enemy aircraft over Iwo Jima, ip the Bonin Islands. Arriving over the target. Liberty Belle was surprised by six Jap planes. From their position in the sun, the Japs dropped phosphorus bombs in an attempt to hit the Liberators, The Liberty Belle held its course and bombed the Jap target. Meanwhile, the Zeros began an attack.

On one of the Jap passes. Sergt. Breen fired 200 rounds and hit a Zero. The other gunners fired on the enemy plane until It was downed. Then four enemy planes closed in on the right waist gunner, Sergt. Michael Esposito of Hazleton, Pa. He fired one short burst and then his guns jammed. “That was the most terrifying experience of my life,” Sergt. Breen said. “Those fighters were closing in on our waist and Sergt. Esposito could do nothing but yell over the interphone for me and the top turret gunner to cover him while he made gun repairs. Fortunately, we drove off all of the fighters with the exception of one.*’

The remaining Jap fighter continued to follow the flight of Liberators and finally attacked the Liberty Belle. The gunners resumed firing and, although the fighter came within 100 yards range, no damage was inflicted on the American plane. As the Jap plane made its second dive under the Liberator, Sergt. Breen practically emptied his guns. Only then did the Jap turn tail and give up the chase. ‘It was a lucky thing our firing was accurate,’’ Sergt. Breen declared. “Later we discovered we had fired over 4,400 rounds of ammunition. Had the Japs continued to attack, we wouldn’t have had any more steel to throw at them.’’

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From the Unit History of the 819th Bombardment Squadron:

On 12 Oct 1944, while enroute to attack shipping in Chichi Jima Harbor, Flight "C", led by Lt. Hadsall and Flight "D", led by Lt. Knudson, attacked an AK in the open sea, thirty miles south of Haha Jima. Thirty 500 lb. GP bombs were dropped on the ship with two hits and four near misses reported. To Lt. Lewis and his bombardier, Lt. Westlake goes credit for sinking the first Jap surface craft since B-24s had begun to operate from Saipan.

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Missions flown by the Knudson crew from Saipan:

Date/Target: 10 Aug 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 14 Aug 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 17 Aug 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 21 Aug 1944 - Yap Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 23 Aug 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 26 Aug 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 29 Aug 1944 - Yap Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 3 Sep 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 5 Sep 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 8 Sep 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 10 Sep 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Home James / Sweet Routine, #44-40527

Date/Target: 14 Sep 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 16 Sep 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 19 Sep 1944 - Chichi Jima Shipping ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 22 Sep 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 24 Sep 1944 - Marcus Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 28 Sep 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 2 Oct 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 4 Oct 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 9 Oct 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 12 Oct 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 15 Oct 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

There was about a month pause in flying combat missions. Reason unknown - but it may have involved a Rest and Relaxation furlough in Hawaii.

Date/Target: 18 Nov 1944 - Chichi Jima Shipping ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 24 Nov 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 27 Nov 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 6 Dec 1944 - Pagan Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 8 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 12 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 17 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 20 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 24 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 27 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 1 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 4 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 9 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 12 Jan 1945 - Marcus Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 13 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 17 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 20 Jan 1945 - Haha Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 24 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Liberty Bell, #44-40708

Date/Target: 30 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: [No name known], #44-41498

Unit History of the 819th Bombardment Squadron:

819.unit_.history.v01.pdf (30thbombgroup.org)