Memorials › PFC Orval Raymond Rhodes

PFC Orval Raymond Rhodes

6 Sep 1925 – 5 Dec 1944

Birth6 Sep 1925
Death5 Dec 1944
CemeteryLiberty Cemetery
Sullivan Township , Moultrie County , Illinois , USA
Added bymissbud24 on 21 Mar 2009
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26137173

Bio

Aerial Gunner with the 113th Base Unit, Charleston Army Airfield, World War II. B-24J Liberator #42-95523 was assigned to climb to 20,000 feet near Walterboro, South Carolina for mock aerial gunnery drills. A group of P-47s were dispatched to "intercept" the bombers at the determined elevation. While climbing, P-47D Thunderbolt #42-29235 collided with the B-24. The Liberator was climbing at a rate of 160 miles per hour, while the Thunderbolt was climbing at 170 miles per hour. Investigators' interviews with other pilots in the group believed that the P-47 pilot was occupied with watching his wingman and was completely unaware of his proximity to the bomber, and only saw it at the last seconds, and attempted a banking turn. But his port wing sliced through the bomber's starboard № 4 engine, tearing it away, and both planes fell from an elevation of 5,500 feet. All twelve aboard the B-24 and P-47 pilot Robert M Johnson were killed. There were no survivors. The B-24 crew were: Capt. Ralph W Miller , Instructor Pilot 2nd Lt. Earl C Knowlton Jr , Pilot/B-24 student 2nd Lt. Russell R Coates , Co-pilot 2nd Lt. Donald C Estes , Bombardier 2nd Lt. William R McDermott Jr , Navigator Sgt. Thomas C Conaway , Gunnery Instructor Cpl. Joseph A Dacek , Flight Engineer Cpl. Léo Roland DuBreuil , Radio Operator Cpl. Lawrence T Dugovic , Gunner PFC Orval Raymond Rhodes , Gunner PFC Herbert D Sidman , Asst. Radio Operator PFC George L Simms , Asst. Engr./Gunner

Inscription

Son of JW & LP Rhodes-US Army Air Force

Photos

Family

Parents

Siblings

Export GEDCOM

This person only · Entire connected family