Show Bomber Pilot Goes to Death on South Pac Pacific fic Isle In Order to Save Ship Lives of Crew Members By HAROLD GUARD AN ADVANCED AMERICAN AIR BASE IN THE SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTHWEST SOUTH SOUTH- WEST PACIFIC May 6 Delayed ed UP Lieutenant UP Lieutenant Christian Herron's Herrons Herrons Herron's Herrons Herron's Her- Her rons ron's grave is a a morass on a little Pacific island his shroud the parachute parachute parachute para para- chute he refused to use He was killed while crash landing landing land land- ing lug his bomber after a a. mission over New Britain on May 2 His crew lived and though they extricate his body they unfolded his parachute and draped it over the cockpit Knowing ving the way he died and why he died every man at this air airbase airbase airbase base was as saddened as if he had been a brother He was 27 years old of Pittsburgh and had flown more than miles in combat in inless less than a month He wasn't flying his own ship and the only members of his regu regu- crew lar-crew aboard were Lieutenant George Barnhill of Charlotte N. N C. C the bombardier and Private Fred of Salem Ind the gunner gunner- Story of Flight Told I ILet Let Barnhill tell the story of Herrons Herron's last flight We didn't get much results on the mission but Chris didn't gripe He didn't move a muscle when one engine stalled on th the return flight Chris took us down within a few feet of the sea Flying blind on instruments through the rain Chris managed to feather the props and keep us out of the drink for nearly two hours Then the fuel transfer pump stalled Chris told us by inter- inter telephone that he couldn't raise the rest of the squadron Chris finally called all hands forward and explained the situa situa- tion He advised us to bail out Nobody would leave him hint alone so everybody decided to ride her down We knew then what Chris in intended intended intended in- in tended to do po He wanted to get the crew to safely bail out then risk his own life trying to save the ship alone Lieutenant N No Noel o e 1 Wright of Schenectady N. N Y said Herron Herron- ordered the crew into the rear compartment and the five men wedged themselves tightly to together together together to- to gether with cushions while he and and the copilot veteran Australian Squadron Leader Bob Gurney stayed forward Gurney directed him to a small island and Herron circled looking for lor a landing place Brings Ship Down Chris brought her down in a three point landing Wright said it seemed incredible on a single motor Suddenly the wheel hit a swampy patch and the bomber flopped over The five crewmen jammed in the rear compartment weren't hurt with the exception of a bruised shoulder Barnhill was on the bottom of the heap and the last to get out Chris realized he was trapped Gurney was dead must have been killed instantly We Wet waded waist deep into the swamp hacking and tearing at the fuselage and lacerating our hands I and arms trying to liberate Chris 1 The plane was gradually sinking I in the mud When he reache reached I Chris and felt his pulse Mikes cried grief to Barnhill Chris Chris is dead We couldn't believe it and continued continued continued con con- to tear at the fuselage When the plane had sunk low in inthe inthe inthe the morass we knew there was no hope We waded to higher ground and sank exhausted on the bank Somebody said a little prayer and we covered the top of I the wrecked cockpit with the parachute parachute parachute para para- chute Chris could have used but We were rescued the next day I |