Last update: 10 September 2023

Crew 13

Thirteenth plane to take off from the USS Hornet on 18 April 1942

Datasheet

- Aircraft Squadron:	37th Bomb Squadron
- Serial number plane:	40-2247
- Name of the plane:	The Avenger - no individual markings - only name
- Take off date:	18 April 1942
- Take off time:	Take off @ 09.01 am ship time USS Hornet
- Place in line to take off:	13th
- Take off direction:	Take off @ about 35 40 N 153 40 E
- Bombs on board:	1 cluster incendiary + 3 demolition bombs
- Bombed area in Japan:	Yokosuka (Kanagawa)
- Bombing of Japan - local time:	01:40 pm
- Fate crew - 18 april 1942:	Bailed out above China - 10:45 pm
- Fate plane - 18 april 1942:	Crash south east of Jingdezhem, China

The Crew

37th Bombardement Squadron

Target

Yokosuka (Kanagawa)

The story of Crew 13

After they bombed he targets the crew flew direction China over the East Chinese Sea.

The crew was able to jump out of the plane safely and fend off being picked up by the Chinese resistance in occupied China. Between Shangroa and Poyang 29°00'14.8"N 116°41'53.5"E , they jumped out of the plane flying at 160 mph or 275 km/h at 10.45 pm and landed safely save for a few scratches. Sergeant Adam Williams sprained his knee. The crew landed in the Jianxi province, Chinz.

The pilot and co-pilot reunited at about 1:00 am. Around 10.00 am, 2 other crew members joined. The last crew member found them at about 11:30 am. They arrived in Poyang at about 5:00 pm at sisters from a mission station.

With help of the Chinese resistance the crew arrived in Chongqing on 23 April 1942.

Crew 13 - Pilot report Edagr E. McElroy - click here - copyright @ nara-usa - public domain

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Picture 1 : Avender plane

Picture 2 : Pilot Lieutenant Edgar McElroy - crew 13 - shaking hands @ Chongqin

Crew picture : copyright @nara-usa - public domain - colored by : Our colorful history @ https://www.facebook.com/historyrestored - used with permission - Thank you so much for the wonderful crew pictures.