1941 Spy Flight B-24A 40-2371: a Virtual Cemetery

See all by Greg Campbell

A Virtual Cemetery created by Greg Campbell

1941 Spy Flight B-24A 40-2371

This virtual cemetery is for the last nine man crew of B-24A 40-2371. Scroll to the bottom of this page for links to the crew members. Their story is summarized below. This is a work in progress. Many of the history books concerning this flight, crew, and mission are erroneous. The plane arrived in Hawaii from California, not Russia! The crew were all members of the 88th Recon Squadron which was in the process of relocating (with new B-17's) from Fort Douglas to "Plum" in the Philippines. This B-24A had been assigned to Ferry Service, but top-secret orders issued between 26 Nov 1941 and Dec 1941 had taken two of America's nine B-24A's and sent them on this mission. There was a 44th Bomb Group (Sqdn?) and they were training to fly B-24's, however they did not have any at that date. It's unclear whether the "1st Photo Group" ever existed, or perhaps it was the name of the unit that these two B-24's would have flown under had they reached the Philippines. Because the plan was not just aerial reconnaissance while getting to the Philippines. MacArthur intended to use these planes to continue recon from the Philippines. It truly would have then been the "1st Photo Group". That remains to be seen. Other errors are that the entire crew was at the plane and that all the KIA and WIA injuries occurred at the plane. It appears only three or four of the crew were near the plane when the bombs fell. The others were either enroute or still at the central barracks.

Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the 9 man crew and some of the other key players in this mission.

LINKS:http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/7Dec41/7Dec41-5.htmlhttp://www.DefenseMediaNetwork.com/stories/pearl-harbor-the-army-air-forces-fight-back/Nice high resolution photos at: Hawaii.gov /hawaiiaviation/aviation-photos/1940-1949/december-7-1941http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation/aviation-photos/1940-1949/december-7-1941/hickam-field/ha_photo_album_view?b_start:int=0&-C=http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation/aviation-photos/1940-1949/december-7-1941/hickam-field/ha_photo_album_view?b_start:int=12&-C=http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation/aviation-photos/1940-1949/december-7-1941/hickam-field/ha_photo_album_view?b_start:int=24&-C=http://hiavps.com/images/1940s_Hickam/neg_0653_aerial-view_HickamField_May1940.jpghttp://hiavps.com/More%201940s.htmhttp://hiavps.com/Even%20More%2040s.htmThis virtual cemetery was created for the last crew to fly B-24A ASN# 40-2371 which became the first American military aircraft destroyed in WW-II combat by the first string of Japanese bombs to fall on Hickam Field on the island of Oahu in the Territory of Hawaii on Sunday 7 Dec 1941. It now also includes some of the other "players" in the 1941 Spy Flight mission.

NOTE - there are many errors in the existing history books surrounding this aircraft, her crew & mission. Work in progress!

This plane did NOT just arrive from Russia, enroute to the Philippines! This crew were ALL assigned to the 88th Reconnaissance Squadron from Fort Douglas UT and had all volunteered for a "super secret" pre-war "Spy Mission".

This "super secret" pre-war "Spy Mission" had been concocted 26 Nov 1941 by high ranking generals to satisfy both Army & Navy requirements for aerial reconnaissance over Japanese "mandate islands" enroute to the Philippines. Two B-24A aircraft (SN# 40-2371 & 40-2376) were ordered out of the Ferry Service in Ohio (?) and were sent to Sacramento Air Depot in CA to have their inspections brought up to date and be equipped with recon cameras. On arrival in Sacramento CA (around 28 Nov to 1 Dec ?), it was determined that these B-24A aircraft had been "stripped" for passenger service and were no longer combat ready.

Two (of the nine total) B-24A aircraft had been ordered out of Ferry Service and were sent to Sacramento CA for this mission. Sacramento Air Depot brought the inspections current and installed 2 large vertical "Kodaks" for aerial reconnaissance cameras in the rear bomb bay of 1Lt Ted S. Faulkner's ship, 40-2371. Faulkner had recently returned from "detached service" with the Ferry Service where he had gained to bring their inspections current, install cameras, and it was then discovered that they needed to be made "combat ready" in compliance with the top secret mission orders It was in Sacramento CA from at least 1 Dec 1941 until it hopped over to Hamilton Field CA on 3 Dec. It departed Hamilton Field CA for Hickam Field in the Territory of Hawaii (TH) on the night of 4 Dec 1941 along with it's sister ship, B24A 40-2376 flown by (then) 1Lt Harvey Watkins. About an hour out, Watkins was forced to return to Sacramento due to ongoing mechanical issues including violent nose wheel shimmy which required structural repairs.
Consequently, only this B-24A 40-2371, flown by (then) 1Lt Ted S. Faulkner, arrived at Hickam Field early on the morning of 5 Dec 1941. It's nine man crew included four officers: 3 pilots: (Faulkner, Campbell & Smith) + 1 celestial navigator (Moslener). The five enlisted men on the crew were: Hobbie, Gradle, Grinyer, Powloski,

Scroll to the bottom of the page to see the 9 man crew and some of the other key players in this mission.

LINKS:http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/AAF/7Dec41/7Dec41-5.htmlhttp://www.DefenseMediaNetwork.com/stories/pearl-harbor-the-army-air-forces-fight-back/Nice high resolution photos at: <a href="http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation/aviation-photos/1940-1949/december-7-1941"> Hawaii.gov /hawaiiaviation/aviation-photos/1940-1949/december-7-1941</a>http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation/aviation-photos/1940-1949/december-7-1941/hickam-field/ha_photo_album_view?b_start:int=0&-C=http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation/aviation-photos/1940-1949/december-7-1941/hickam-field/ha_photo_album_view?b_start:int=12&-C=http://hawaii.gov/hawaiiaviation/aviation-photos/1940-1949/december-7-1941/hickam-field/ha_photo_album_view?b_start:int=24&-C=http://hiavps.com/images/1940s_Hickam/neg_0653_aerial-view_HickamField_May1940.jpghttp://hiavps.com/More%201940s.htmhttp://hiavps.com/Even%20More%2040s.htmThis virtual cemetery was created for the last crew to fly B-24A ASN# 40-2371 which became <b>the first American military aircraft destroyed in WW-II combat</b> by the first string of Japanese bombs to fall on Hickam Field on the island of Oahu in the Territory of Hawaii on Sunday 7 Dec 1941.  It now also includes some of the other "players" in the 1941 Spy Flight mission.

NOTE - there are many errors in the existing history books surrounding this aircraft, her crew & mission.  Work in progress!

This plane did NOT just arrive from Russia, enroute to the Philippines!  This crew were ALL assigned to the <b>88th Reconnaissance Squadron</b> from Fort Douglas UT and had all volunteered for a "super secret" pre-war "Spy Mission".

This "super secret" pre-war "Spy Mission" had been concocted 26 Nov 1941 by high ranking generals to satisfy both Army & Navy requirements for aerial reconnaissance over Japanese "mandate islands" enroute to the Philippines.  Two B-24A aircraft (SN# 40-2371 & 40-2376) were ordered out of the Ferry Service in Ohio (?) and were sent to Sacramento Air Depot in CA to have their inspections brought up to date and be equipped with recon cameras.  On arrival in Sacramento CA (around 28 Nov to 1 Dec ?), it was determined that these B-24A aircraft had been "stripped" for passenger service and were no longer combat ready.

Two (of the nine total) B-24A aircraft had been ordered out of Ferry Service and were sent to Sacramento CA for this mission.  Sacramento Air Depot brought the inspections current and installed 2 large vertical "Kodaks" for aerial reconnaissance cameras in the rear bomb bay of 1Lt Ted S. Faulkner's ship, 40-2371.  Faulkner had recently returned from "detached service" with the Ferry Service where he had gained to bring their inspections current, install cameras, and it was then discovered that they needed to be made "combat ready" in compliance with the top secret mission orders  It was in Sacramento CA from at least 1 Dec 1941 until it hopped over to Hamilton Field CA on 3 Dec.  It departed Hamilton Field CA for Hickam Field in the Territory of Hawaii (TH) on the night of 4 Dec 1941 along with it's sister ship, B24A 40-2376 flown by (then) 1Lt Harvey Watkins.  About an hour out, Watkins was forced to return to Sacramento due to ongoing mechanical issues including violent nose wheel shimmy which required structural repairs.
Consequently, only this B-24A 40-2371, flown by (then) 1Lt Ted S. Faulkner, arrived at Hickam Field early on the morning of 5 Dec 1941.  It's nine man crew included four officers:  3 pilots: (Faulkner, Campbell & Smith) + 1 celestial navigator (Moslener).  The five enlisted men on the crew were: Hobbie, Gradle, Grinyer, Powloski,