It's hard not to be saddened by the actual footage of his burial. It just breaks my heart. Deen would have been honored by his burial at sea. RIP warrior!
Jack C. Taylor, the founder of Enterprise Rent-A-Car was an Avenger pilot on, you guessed it, the Enterprise. He was also a huge donator to the National Museum of Naval Aviation. They have a pristine and meticulously restored Avenger. The story goes that Jack was visiting after one of his donations. They fueled, oiled and pre-flighted the aircraft and pulled it outside. They let Taylor fire it up and taxi the plane around for quite a while.
My uncle flew B-17s from England with the 379th Bomb Group. There were few times ball turret gunners came back completely butchered by 88mm and 20mm cannon rounds off German fighters. Focke Wulf 190s were some of the worst cause they had four 20s in the wings. I read if a story about a 98th BG B-17 ball turret gunner coming apart as the ground crews and FF tried e pulling him out. I almost cried reading about this.
This is 10/24/2022 - The Pharmacist Mate shown taking the fingerprints is Dick Wilson, now aged 96, lives in Spanaway Washington. I described the video and he confirmed it was him. He just had his computer stolen from his home while he was gone. Dick also served with the marines in post WWII China trying to protect Japanese soldiers and retired from the Air Force. Dick was a ski buddy of mine... a very good skier.
Thank you so much for helping TJ3 history get in contact! It was awesome seeing and listening to Mr. Dick Wilson's interview. It is awesome to see him doing well. He sounds like an amazing friend. Again thank you for helping this channel get in contact with this veteran. And please thank him for his service for us all. 🙏
Damn, man, damn. I was stunned when you showed the actual footage of Loyce plane.... seeing them take fingerprints...pushing it off the deck, and honor flight for him. As an Army vet, I'm holding back tears as I type this. Thank you kindly for sharing this poignant story. God bless you.
There are other videos of this, including at least two that show a little bit more. It appeared that Loyce Deen's head was completely gone. A son of the pilot actually commented on another video and said that after Digby Denzik saw what happened to Deen, he sat on the floor of the plane with his back to the pilot and didnt speak on the way back to the carrier.
Well, buried in his own airplane. Loyce would most definitely would have loved a different outcome, but the result is nevertheless a brutal but honourable tribute to duty, cameradery and sheer determination.
He probably knew he'd die. Even with such a thought in mind, he went on to a final mission with his, eventually paying the price for his actions. Such loyalty he had, such bravery he had, such friendship he had. What a story, i didn't want to cry after hearing a story for a while now. Thank you for bringing us this video, and lets remember him.
My Dad was a gunner on a TBM (the TBF variant was built by GM) the "Nit Witt" Tail number 15 of torpedo group 6 that flew off of the John Hancock Essex class. He survived the war (thus I can write this) and died in 2006 just days before his 81st birthday. Thanks to all who served. RIP Airman Deen
Very poignant and brutally sad story........I've heard this one many times before, but you've definitely delivered an excellent and respectful accounting here, TJ!! Jim C.
Thanks for watching guys! Make sure to go check out and support your local Commemorative Air Force wing! And go see the Avenger Torpedo Bomber from this video at Airbase Arizona! Airbase AZ on FB - facebook.com/cafairbasearizona CAF on RUclips - ruclips.net/channel/UCajbMdqv165JZRKjs60E46g If you want to read more about Loyce Deen, check out this page - www.loyceedeen.org/
Beautifully and respectfully told. What an amazing story. Just one moment of the sacrifices made by thousands of men and women, so that we can do today what we're able to do. Without men like this, America doesn't exist anymore. To each and every one of the veterans of every war, thank you. Your service was priceless.
I have watched the raw video of Avenger being pushed off the flight deck before. I appreciate your effort to tell the story of this heroic gunner and his burial at sea. A similar story of a surviving Avenger is that of Ensign Albert K. Earnest with VT-8 who made the first attack using avengers from Midway Island. Half of VT-8 were on Midway and attacked the Japanese with Army B-26's. Earnest was the only Avenger to return to Midway. His TBF was badly damaged and his gunner was also killed. Ens. George Gay was the only survivor of VT-8 that attacked from the carrier and Ens. Earnest was the sole survivor of the attack from the island of Midway.
Here is another posting of the event. At 1.47 in this video there is a crewman in a flight suit on the left looking dazed. He is probably the pilot; ruclips.net/video/FMWz10jaK0g/видео.html
Good coverage of this story although cleaned up. Dean was decapitated or at least largely so; Blood, brain matter etc, had actually rained down on the radioman below him so the reality of the situation was quite gory. Still, that kind of burial couldn’t have been easily decided. More than likely his plane won’t ever be discovered but even if so, wouldn’t be touched since a war grave.
they were Shocked that Cosgrove was able to get it back aboard, The aircraft had a lot of Damage that wasn't readily visible, that made the decision to ditch the aircraft that much easier, as much as to save the Graves Registration guys, and the AMM's the task of trying to disentangle his remains from the turret. There are other videos available on YT that show more of the sequence. One very moving version has the BYU Men's Choir singing "Going Home". Even though he was Buried at Sea, he has a Marker in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.
This story needs to be made into a movie! So many patriots have given their lives for us. They gave everything so their children and grand children could live free. It’s a disgrace that so many of todays crowd think giving up your life for others give them the ok to focus on the importance of what pronoun to call someone.
You have to know that Loyce's body had to have been absolutely shredded to warrant such a rushed decision to bury him "in" the plane. I wonder, too, if some of the decision was made in order to not lower morale among his surviving shipmates and aircrew. For them to see the remains of Lloyd's body removed from the gunner's turret piece by piece would have to be unnerving for even the most stout-hearted patriot. God bless Loyce Deen and all others who gave so much to make and keep us free.
I read a article about this somewhere and they said he had been hit by a 37mm Anti-Aircraft round that penetrated thru the bottom and when it happened the radio man knew it was bad because he was showered with teeth and bone. That’s all they said.
My grandfather who is still alive and has little life left actually assisted on pushing the plane in. I just got his story recorded from WWII a week ago with him talking about it so I’m glad he isn’t gone yet
A very compelling , touching world war history of event that depicts true nature heart of every soldier that fights for the freedom of other country, undeniably will mark on my personality learning this story. Specially it happened just to liberate my native land the Philippines.
Thank you for honoring Loyce Deen with this video. I watched this once on "Victory at Sea." but that was many years ago. There was also a film of British Pilot Cmdr J.D.Russell who went off of the HMS Victorious in 1958 after the arrester gear failed. Trapped in his sinking plane, he drowned in the cockpit. I believe that his body and plane were recovered weeks later. Brave men all!
It was the only choice at the time. Imagine 12:25 being one of the men hanging on to the bird as it wheels to the end of the deck. So grim but they came.together
I heard about this story and I feel really sorry for airman Deen, hero that could have easily came back to USA to be cured better but he decided to stay with his crew to fight on. I agree that he was buried in the sea with his airplane. A real American hero 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 Thanks for sharing this sad story.....
I had read about this some years before but your video gave much more information and treated the subject matter with the honor it deserved. Well done.
I think that was probably the right decision even if they had plenty of time. He was probably completely mangled. At least let him go “intact” with his plane.
It's been about 20 years ago my Dad visited on his bucket list having terminal cancer so among the Grand Canyon, which he had only seen from the air while ferrying F4U's to Cal I took him to a local Air musuem east side of the valley. After seeing the vintage aircraft we entered a building with weapons, uniforms and other objects from both world wars. For a moment I lost track of Dad but found him around a corner fixed on a hand painted oil of a torpedo drive bomber circling a downed pilot with a Japanese cruiser approaching to capture the downed pilot. My Dad turned to me with a look or amazement on his face and said 'I can't believe it, that was my first unit of assignment. My Dad later was a mechanic's mate and still later a non-commissioned pilot.
My grandfather was in the Pacific and also at the Battle of Leyte Gulf - the bit of war I got from him was they had to sweep the bodies of his shipmates off the deck so the planes could land. He was a character and I didn't really know if there was any truth to it, but this video made me realize it was probably fact which is why he never wanted to talk about it.
I never served but I grew up in the Navy from age 0 to 23. Although I did enjoy this video, I don't think it was as rare as implied. If rare at all. War is pretty ugly.
@@calmseas9263 It was still rare even though it was also commonplace. Courage inspires motivation to follow it. Every life is precious and today more than ever we need that rare courage so maybe one day it becomes commonplace among us like in our fighting men of WWII and so many other conflicts. Am I dreaming too high? I learned to do that from these heroes on whose shoulders I am nothing but a little gnat. Still, an inspired courageous gnat can take out an eye when it matters most.
and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, UNTIL THIS NATION GETS IT THROUGH THEIR THICK HEADS THAT THE O.N.L.Y. REASON THIS NATION HASN'T FALLEN YET TO SOME OTHER COUNTRY IS ONLY BECAUSE OF MEN & WOMEN LIKE THIS MAN!!! This is ANOTHER reason just WHY this Nation should enact 2 YEAR minimum ENLISTMENT POST HIGH SCHOOL for ALL 18 YEAR OLDS NO MATTER WHAT (even if they are born with out an ARM or LEG etc. they can STILL be USEFUL!) IF NO OTHER REASON THAN TO SERVE AS A REMINDER TO THOSE WHO CAN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND JUST "WHY" THIS NATION IS STILL "FREE"... Maybe then they might finally understand that being a part of this Great Nation carries a COST for that FREEDOM!!!
How many people regardless of age, CARE? Half this country, doesn't belive in the pledge if allegiance, or even ww2 was separate from Korea, or even Viet nam.... far too many Americans have forgot or care about the heros that give them that right.
it is so sad when we cut through the statistics and focus on a one young man who gave his all to fight for our freedom, Thanks and respects Mr. Deen, may your memory never diminish
Yes, there is a video clip in the " Victory at sea" 1952 series looks like the same event I happened to see last night... They also burried several other people the same day... My father was drafted at age 36, saw action as a landing craft driver taking the army to several invasion beaches in New Guinea and later in the Philippines... when watching the landings there, its quite likely that my father was driving one of the landing craft seen in that victory at sea episode... makes it really personal... he only talked about his service once... typical for those who served in most wars...
Coincidence, Lewis. My dad was an Army company commander and made all the amphib landings along the northern coast of New Guinea. Then made the landing in Lingayen Bay on Luzon on Jan 6, 1945. Wounded twice and a Bronze Star for valor. Who knows? Maybe they were in the same landing craft; stranger things have happened...
I mean in order to have another “great generation” Would require the same brutality an suffering of the 2nd Great War. Which I’m glad has not happen. If you seen war you wish with every fiber in your body that it never happens again
Any generation would have done what they did. No generation is better or worse - just different. Personally today's generation has more of a mess to clean up after the ecological vandalism the boomer generation has done.
Two of my uncles were shot down over Europe...one lived one died... another came ashore in Normandy D Day, 1944... another was a mechanic for the bombers in England...
Fuckin hell. War stories usually dont choke me up but this one did especially seeing actual footage of the funeral and the avenger being pushed overboard
@@TJ3that avenger went over the edge perfectly. Perfect symmetry and it fell with the heaviness of a purpose-built War machine. he was surrounded by many friends before being committed to the deep. I was a flight line mechanic in the military and I would have been so honored to ride on the landing gear of the aircraft as it was taxied To its final position as you saw the men in the video
God Bless you Loyce, you did what you knew you had to do. If you had opted to the hospital, there would be no shame, but your Pilot would have to work with a new unfamiliar crew member. You didn't let them down. All wars are won on the backs of men too young and brave to contemplate the dangers around them. They die young and quick.
If the coordinates were recorded, at least the family should know approximately where he was buried at sea. What I don't understand is why they didn't tear up the Avenger gunners cage and pull out Dean's body. It's not described how tangled he was. Such a sad story for someone so young. A hero. I hope his family were awarded a medal for their son's bravery. Lodge Deen deserved a medal for risking his life and losing it as well. Tragic tragic story. I salute this man.
Added to their challenge, unlike a B-17 or a B-25 turret gunners with twin 50's all these guys had was a SINGLE 30 (rifle caliber) cal machine gun to defend their plane with.
@@TJ3 Yes, even the SBD gunners were given twin guns for their open positions after Midway. Not even the British with all of their developments with single turrets on single engined aircraft used only a single gun, but often went to four guns for their 303's.
I believe that the turret gun was a .50 caliber mg. BTW, I have long wondered why such a big, heavy plane wouldn't have had the P&W R-2800, with the biggest 4-bladed prop available (such as the one on the later Corsair or Thunderbolt). Such an improvement could have resulted in an least 50-70 mph increase in top speed.
As an amateur WWII historian for over 40 years now, this is one of the saddest stories I've heard. I never heard it before, thank you so much for bringing it up to everyone's attention!
That truly brings tears to my eyes. What a testament to a Hero. I have to give a salute , sir, and say to you , I know you have a place at the table of those other great men, who have fought for the freedoms of there countries .
Basically, he was killed by Japanese explosive shells, and the aircraft when it returned to his asircraft carrier was deemed too badly damaged, so they pushed the aircraft over the side without retrieving his body.
I've watched the landing and burial of this craft a few times. Your video here does a wonderful work of providing all the backstory and more human element. RIP all those heroes.
Maybe a video on the B-24 "Lady Be Good" found in the late 50s in the North African desert. Not all of the bodies of the crewmen have been found. Just an idea. Thanks!
I just watched a documentary about that one. Such a sad, but interesting story. All but one was found, but there was a report of oil workers finding the last body years before the others were found. They reported it, but never marked the location of the grave if memory serves. So they don't know for sure.
@@xjcrossx ABC made a fictional, ghost story about the incident for TV in 1970. "Sole Survivor" starred Richard Baseheart & William Shatner. "Home Run" was the name of the B-24
Actor Paul Newman was an WWII Avenger crew member, first as a turret gunner, then promoted to bombardier /radio operator. I've seen this video many times before, and it must been a horrific mess in that turret.
Story goes, Newman’s pilot on the Bunker Hill had an ear infection; so that particular plane crew was left behind @ Pearl Harbor. The Bunker Hill was hit by a kamikaze that eventually killed nearly 400 of the Bunker Hill’s crew. Had Newman’s pilot not had a medical ailment, he could have been among the killed.
It would be considered as a War Grave and should not be touched. With so many planes that were lost, and how long it has been it make it very hard to find.
My grandfather (dad’s dad) was a gunner on the Avenger bomber, he was at Leyte Gulf, and had turned 21 just a couple days before the battle, the Carrier he severed on was sunk via kamikaze, and the ship that picked him up was lost the same way
My great uncle, was a gunner on the Dewey through the war, (she was a destroyer). For 75 years AFTER ww2 he was still having nightmares and slmetimes he would scream in his sleep "kamikaze incoming on the port" or a simular screem in his sleep. As far as I know she never was hit by one. Only imagine the fear those crews faced when the Japanese turned kamikaze.
The pilot can't get out of the cockpit and go an check on his gunner - there is no walkway, he would have to climb out on the wing in 170mph wind . Not to mention who would fly the plane ?
I've heard the story, but a bit differently. The way I heard it, the plane wasn't kept together as a mark of respect to the deceased, but simply as one of those awful realities of war: the pressing need to clear the deck and not have wounded or potentially useless aircraft taking up hangar space in a moment of crisis. Due to the pressing needs of time and incoming danger, the decision was taken to give the man as hasty a funeral service as could be afforded to him, and then push his plane overboard to make room for other wounded and get everyone back to their jobs in response to the danger.
I have so many on my list. I very much want to cover more Japanese stuff. Hopefully I can get some interviews and commentary on the Japanese planes soon.
Incredible story. This was true in WW II up to current day. There is something about being in battle that creates a seemingly unbreakable bond. There are interviews of soldiers that’ll tell you their greatest fear is not being killed but not being there to fight alongside their brothers/squad. Having never served (regretfully), I don’t pretend to understand it but I respect the heck out of it.
The original as well as this video bring to my mind stories My Uncles told of their experiences that are too many for this forum. One of My Uncles Was A machine gunner and told of men right beside Him being shot through the head / helmet . Other’s with mud and gravel embedded in their bodies when a tank drove over a large mine. My Maternal Grandmothers Cousin was in the 7th Infantry Division , He saw action in the Aleutian’s before being Killed In Action on Leyte the Philippines. One of My Dads Older Brother’s My Uncle Bernard was 18 and a combat engineer in the 289th RCT 75th infantry Division when Richard Wiegand stepped into the Tour de Loupe roadway and fire His Bazooka point blank into the rear of a Panther tank. The explosion at such close range killed Him instantly. He was completely dismembered. His action turned the Tide of the Battle of the Bulge in that area and possibly as a whole making it a historic turning point and example of the difference each man can make. Also see The Story of G. I. Joe book and Movie By Ernie Pyle. The Natoma Bay Memorial is also very Moving and a example of the sacrifices made by other air crews on all the other ships and branches of service.
I recall seeing the images and film of this burial at sea many years ago when I was just a teenager. Only now, 70 years since my youth, have I learned the identity of Loyce Deen. This video makes reference to the usual practice of salvaging spares from damaged aircraft. It should be noted that this particular plane was brand new at the time of this incident. Consequently, its sacrifice was all the more significant.
I was deployed in the later days of the Pacific War after being redeployed from the European front only saw minor skirmishes with Japanese holdouts on a few Islands. I'm grateful he and the other guys who went before me cleared the way so I didn't have to fight so hard out there. It was no fun in Europe there was no fun in the Pacific.
To me, I assume that bailing out of the lower crew position in the fuselage of the aircraft would have been difficult, especially if they aircraft was spiraling out of control. It probably would have been much more difficult if you had to exit during a ditching.
My father served in the Navy from 1959 to 1969. He was aboard the USS Essex when it took part in the Cuban Missile Crisis. I am honored to hear the name of the ship in this video but saddened by the sacrifice of Deen. I wonder if my father ever knew this history about the Essex airman.
I remember seeing pictures of that aircraft being pushed overboard never knew the story thank you I do know this that the people that flew and worked on Avengers we're of a different breed I don't care what you think of George bush senior he was one tough dude I've heard other stories about Avenger Pilots. I had the pleasure of having a friend he passed about 4 years ago he flew Wildcats and hellcats he told me the stories about Avenger pilots and their crew his words we got all the glory they did all the hard work thanks for the story
I have come to the decision that a true hero would never consider themselves one, nor what they did was anything more than what needed to or had to be done at the time. THAT is what makes them a hero! Never putting themselves or their safety first and always looking out for their comrades first is the most common trait. RIP Airman Deen. Here almost 80 years later your devotion and deeds are NOT forgotten!
My dad was a radio operator in TBMs at the end of the war. I took him to the TBM Avenger reunion in IL a few years before he passed. He enjoyed, at 93, critiquing the restorations. I believe the cockpit area behind the pilot was not manned. Just equipment. The gunner had no room for a parachute and had to crawl down to where the radio operator was to get his and escape through the side door with the radioman. Only restored birds today have a back seat in the cockpit.
I had an uncle who was a radio operator in an Avenger during the war and from what I gathered from his letters, there was a seat in the middle that the radioman would sit in while en route to target and then he would climb down into the bottom position if they were attacked by Japanese fighters and/or to help aim the torpedo once on target.
Great video. I have seen silent films of the burial at sea but had no commentary of who this patriot was. After 80 years people hear is name for the first time. Thank you.
There was nothing left of him that’s why . The Pilots always got medals . But the enlisted men aft were facing .20 mm shells from the zeros guns and imminent death .
George Herbert Walker Bush was an Avenger pilot and shot down glide bombing Chici Jima. His story is compelling. When he was President, he broke down and cried talking about it, thinking of the loss of his crew who was captured and executed, and eaten.
Lost an Uncle around March 25th 1944. Battle of New Britain Rabal Theatre. He was a Marine rear turret gunner on an Avenger. His name was Warren Roessler. Wish I knew more about his last mission , pilot, squadron etc. MY AUNT WASN'T MARRIED VERY LONG BEFORE HE SHIPPED OUT. The lost affected her life deeply. Like so many others.
I'm going to a TBF Avenger fly in this weekend in Peru Illinois. A yearly event (5/17 and 5/18/24). There will be arounf 20 Avengers. My dad was an Avenger pilot in the same theater as Loyce. I'm donating dads flight boots to one of the pilots.
This touches my soul every time I read/watch Loyce's story. I'm sure there are many unknown stories, and gallant actions. To the men and women, (courageous animals too) thank you for my freedom! Thank you for sharing. We'll done!
Duty, Honor, Country. It would have been nice to refer to him as a naval airman and give his actual Navy rate/rank (Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class or Petty Officer 2nd Class) as opposed to just airman. I suspect he was proud of his rank/rate and naval service.
It makes sense. The plane was damaged so badly that it was going to be pushed overboard anyway, and his body was so badly mangled that getting it out would be difficult, and he would have been buried at sea anyway. So might as well let the plane he fought and died in be his coffin.
As a very avid WW2 buff, I admittingly never heard of this story before, but found it to be very heroic and honorable. The story is very well said, with the utmost respect and honor given, to such a courageous young man. And as another commenter mentions below, herein is yet another story about a man among the thousands of others who gave the ultimate sacrifice, in the defense of our freedoms and way of life here in North America and throughout all of the Western world. Very well put together and thank you very much for sharing!
Men die like flies in war. I suspect this particular story only persists because we have the rather unsettling film taken of his 'final journey'. I doubt very much that he was the only airman sent to a watery grave in this way.
My great grandfather was a bombadier on an American bomber over Italy. He once had to manually realese all the bombs on the plane due to a malfunction on a four inch cat walk over the sky with a screwdriver. The reason was because the bombs were altitude controlled and if the plane tried to land they would have blown up. Another story was when he was shot down over Italy and he had to parachute down. He had to survive from nazis for 2 weeks on the ground before rescue. He lived through the war.
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It's hard not to be saddened by the actual footage of his burial. It just breaks my heart. Deen would have been honored by his burial at sea. RIP warrior!
Jack C. Taylor, the founder of Enterprise Rent-A-Car was an Avenger pilot on, you guessed it, the Enterprise. He was also a huge donator to the National Museum of Naval Aviation. They have a pristine and meticulously restored Avenger. The story goes that Jack was visiting after one of his donations. They fueled, oiled and pre-flighted the aircraft and pulled it outside. They let Taylor fire it up and taxi the plane around for quite a while.
My uncle flew B-17s from England with the 379th Bomb Group. There were few times ball turret gunners came back completely butchered by 88mm and 20mm cannon rounds off German fighters. Focke Wulf 190s were some of the worst cause they had four 20s in the wings. I read if a story about a 98th BG B-17 ball turret gunner coming apart as the ground crews and FF tried e pulling him out. I almost cried reading about this.
Wow!
Think there were a few others buried in their planes at sea... albeit less ceremoniously
I thought Taylor was a Hellcat pilot on the Big E.
Enterprise Rent-A-Car also sponsored Battle 360 show on History Channel which followed USS Enterprise during Pacific Campaign
This is 10/24/2022 - The Pharmacist Mate shown taking the fingerprints is Dick Wilson, now aged 96, lives in Spanaway Washington. I described the video and he confirmed it was him. He just had his computer stolen from his home while he was gone. Dick also served with the marines in post WWII China trying to protect Japanese soldiers and retired from the Air Force. Dick was a ski buddy of mine... a very good skier.
If he is alive and this is true, please reach out or have him reach out to me. I would love to try to talk to him. TJ3business@gmail.com
Thank you so much for helping TJ3 history get in contact! It was awesome seeing and listening to Mr. Dick Wilson's interview. It is awesome to see him doing well. He sounds like an amazing friend. Again thank you for helping this channel get in contact with this veteran. And please thank him for his service for us all. 🙏
Lawrence, thanks for sharing this. Glad Mr. Wilson was interviewed.
@@kimberlybateman5326 I came looking for this comment from that video. Such a cool man. I'm glad this guy got this interview. Another part of history!
Lawrence thank you for passing along this information for the follow up video. It was a such a cool interview.
RIP Airman Deen, fly high courageous gunner .
Damn, man, damn. I was stunned when you showed the actual footage of Loyce plane.... seeing them take fingerprints...pushing it off the deck, and honor flight for him. As an Army vet, I'm holding back tears as I type this.
Thank you kindly for sharing this poignant story. God bless you.
There are other videos of this, including at least two that show a little bit more. It appeared that Loyce Deen's head was completely gone.
A son of the pilot actually commented on another video and said that after Digby Denzik saw what happened to Deen, he sat on the floor of the plane with his back to the pilot and didnt speak on the way back to the carrier.
Well, buried in his own airplane. Loyce would most definitely would have loved a different outcome, but the result is nevertheless a brutal but honourable tribute to duty, cameradery and sheer determination.
He probably knew he'd die. Even with such a thought in mind, he went on to a final mission with his, eventually paying the price for his actions. Such loyalty he had, such bravery he had, such friendship he had. What a story, i didn't want to cry after hearing a story for a while now. Thank you for bringing us this video, and lets remember him.
yeah so courageous
My Dad was a gunner on a TBM (the TBF variant was built by GM) the "Nit Witt" Tail number 15 of torpedo group 6 that flew off of the John Hancock Essex class.
He survived the war (thus I can write this) and died in 2006 just days before his 81st birthday.
Thanks to all who served.
RIP Airman Deen
Likewise my dad was a TBM rear turret gunner flying of the Uss Shangri la if memory serves, in 1944 -45. Stayed in the Navy 30 more years.
19 years old... it was a different breed back then.
@@gordonhenderson1965 Yep, he had his 18th Birthday in boot-camp and 19th aboard ship.
Very poignant and brutally sad story........I've heard this one many times before, but you've definitely delivered an excellent and respectful accounting here, TJ!! Jim C.
Thanks Jim!
Thanks for watching guys! Make sure to go check out and support your local Commemorative Air Force wing! And go see the Avenger Torpedo Bomber from this video at Airbase Arizona!
Airbase AZ on FB - facebook.com/cafairbasearizona
CAF on RUclips - ruclips.net/channel/UCajbMdqv165JZRKjs60E46g
If you want to read more about Loyce Deen, check out this page - www.loyceedeen.org/
Beautifully and respectfully told. What an amazing story. Just one moment of the sacrifices made by thousands of men and women, so that we can do today what we're able to do. Without men like this, America doesn't exist anymore. To each and every one of the veterans of every war, thank you. Your service was priceless.
If they saw what the Government is doing to us now they would all turn in their graves
I have watched the raw video of Avenger being pushed off the flight deck before. I appreciate your effort to tell the story of this heroic gunner and his burial at sea.
A similar story of a surviving Avenger is that of Ensign Albert K. Earnest with VT-8 who made the first attack using avengers from Midway Island. Half of VT-8 were on Midway and attacked the Japanese with Army B-26's. Earnest was the only Avenger to return to Midway. His TBF was badly damaged and his gunner was also killed. Ens. George Gay was the only survivor of VT-8 that attacked from the carrier and Ens. Earnest was the sole survivor of the attack from the island of Midway.
Here is another posting of the event. At 1.47 in this video there is a crewman in a flight suit on the left looking dazed. He is probably the pilot;
ruclips.net/video/FMWz10jaK0g/видео.html
Touching how careful and gentle the sailor attending to the body handled his dead shipmate.
I’ve heard this story before and have seen the footage. RIP AMM 2C Deen. You were a brave young man.
He will always be young. You and I will get older.
Good coverage of this story although cleaned up. Dean was decapitated or at least largely so; Blood, brain matter etc, had actually rained down on the radioman below him so the reality of the situation was quite gory. Still, that kind of burial couldn’t have been easily decided. More than likely his plane won’t ever be discovered but even if so, wouldn’t be touched since a war grave.
took 2 40mm shells to the turret
Yes, you are correct.
Yes, I read that too. With such injuries at least his passing was quick. R.I.P, and my eternal thanks for your sacrifice to ensure my freedoms today.
they were Shocked that Cosgrove was able to get it back aboard, The aircraft had a lot of Damage that wasn't readily visible, that made the decision to ditch the aircraft that much easier, as much as to save the Graves Registration guys, and the AMM's the task of trying to disentangle his remains from the turret. There are other videos available on YT that show more of the sequence. One very moving version has the BYU Men's Choir singing "Going Home". Even though he was Buried at Sea, he has a Marker in the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial.
This story needs to be made into a movie! So many patriots have given their lives for us. They gave everything so their children and grand children could live free. It’s a disgrace that so many of todays crowd think giving up your life for others give them the ok to focus on the importance of what pronoun to call someone.
Hollywood would just screw it up!
Amen Brother!! I agree with you 💯 percent!!
You have to know that Loyce's body had to have been absolutely shredded to warrant such a rushed decision to bury him "in" the plane. I wonder, too, if some of the decision was made in order to not lower morale among his surviving shipmates and aircrew. For them to see the remains of Lloyd's body removed from the gunner's turret piece by piece would have to be unnerving for even the most stout-hearted patriot.
God bless Loyce Deen and all others who gave so much to make and keep us free.
I read a article about this somewhere and they said he had been hit by a 37mm Anti-Aircraft round that penetrated thru the bottom and when it happened the radio man knew it was bad because he was showered with teeth and bone. That’s all they said.
@@shannonmonroe5873
Judging by the comments, some people really don't get it. 😕
My grandfather who is still alive and has little life left actually assisted on pushing the plane in. I just got his story recorded from WWII a week ago with him talking about it so I’m glad he isn’t gone yet
Bless your grandfather. Let him know we are thankful.
A very compelling , touching world war history of event that depicts true nature heart of every soldier that fights for the freedom of other country, undeniably will mark on my personality learning this story. Specially it happened just to liberate my native land the Philippines.
This really touches the soul of us Navy Veterans.
My grandfather was a tailgunner in a SBD on Enterprise from 43-45.
You will very much love my Veterans Day video :)
Thank you for honoring Loyce Deen with this video. I watched this once on "Victory at Sea." but that was many years ago. There was also a film of British Pilot Cmdr J.D.Russell who went off of the HMS Victorious in 1958 after the arrester gear failed. Trapped in his sinking plane, he drowned in the cockpit. I believe that his body and plane were recovered weeks later. Brave men all!
Thank you for your service. There is no greater gift than a man will lay down his life for his brother.
I can't imagine having to make such a decision, but what those men did was incredibly honorable. Great video!
Speechless.... had tears in eyes when i see the plane was pushed overboard. No one should be buried in such way. Respect. Salute. Rest in Peace, sir 🙏
It was the only choice at the time. Imagine 12:25 being one of the men hanging on to the bird as it wheels to the end of the deck. So grim but they came.together
I heard about this story and I feel really sorry for airman Deen, hero that could have easily came back to USA to be cured better but he decided to stay with his crew to fight on. I agree that he was buried in the sea with his airplane. A real American hero 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Thanks for sharing this sad story.....
I knew of this story for a long time. Excellent presentation and great job bringing more attention to this story.
I had read about this some years before but your video gave much more information and treated the subject matter with the honor it deserved. Well done.
Thank you!
Thank you for bringing this history back to life. There was something so riveting about seeing actually footage. Rip Deen
I think that was probably the right decision even if they had plenty of time. He was probably completely mangled. At least let him go “intact” with his plane.
It's been about 20 years ago my Dad visited on his bucket list having terminal cancer so among the Grand Canyon, which he had only seen from the air while ferrying F4U's to Cal
I took him to a local Air musuem east side of the valley. After seeing the vintage aircraft we entered a building with weapons, uniforms and other objects from both world wars. For a moment I lost track of Dad but found him around a corner fixed on a hand painted oil of a torpedo drive bomber circling a downed pilot with a Japanese cruiser approaching to capture the downed pilot. My Dad turned to me with a look or amazement on his face and said 'I can't believe it, that was my first unit of assignment. My Dad later was a mechanic's mate and still later a non-commissioned pilot.
I bet that sent a chill down your spine
@@jamesdewey3259 I flashed back to friends I lost in Nam and one who missed a mortar round that landed in his bunk, I was career AF.
Since he was part of the battle of Leyte Gulf, is it possible they encountered the Battleship Yamato and the center force?
My grandfather was in the Pacific and also at the Battle of Leyte Gulf - the bit of war I got from him was they had to sweep the bodies of his shipmates off the deck so the planes could land. He was a character and I didn't really know if there was any truth to it, but this video made me realize it was probably fact which is why he never wanted to talk about it.
It was true.
Sweep,throw,use water hoses,pickup parts.
I never served but I grew up in the Navy from age 0 to 23. Although I did enjoy this video, I don't think it was as rare as implied. If rare at all. War is pretty ugly.
@@calmseas9263 It was still rare even though it was also commonplace. Courage inspires motivation to follow it. Every life is precious and today more than ever we need that rare courage so maybe one day it becomes commonplace among us like in our fighting men of WWII and so many other conflicts. Am I dreaming too high? I learned to do that from these heroes on whose shoulders I am nothing but a little gnat. Still, an inspired courageous gnat can take out an eye when it matters most.
thats bullshit they would not just sweep bodies off the deck they got a full Military burial at sea
The service men and women who are killed in the line of duty deserve to have their stories told and re-told.
👍
and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, and RE-TOLD, UNTIL THIS NATION GETS IT THROUGH THEIR THICK HEADS THAT THE O.N.L.Y. REASON THIS NATION HASN'T FALLEN YET TO SOME OTHER COUNTRY IS ONLY BECAUSE OF MEN & WOMEN LIKE THIS MAN!!! This is ANOTHER reason just WHY this Nation should enact 2 YEAR minimum ENLISTMENT POST HIGH SCHOOL for ALL 18 YEAR OLDS NO MATTER WHAT (even if they are born with out an ARM or LEG etc. they can STILL be USEFUL!) IF NO OTHER REASON THAN TO SERVE AS A REMINDER TO THOSE WHO CAN'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND JUST "WHY" THIS NATION IS STILL "FREE"... Maybe then they might finally understand that being a part of this Great Nation carries a COST for that FREEDOM!!!
How many people regardless of age, CARE? Half this country, doesn't belive in the pledge if allegiance, or even ww2 was separate from Korea, or even Viet nam.... far too many Americans have forgot or care about the heros that give them that right.
it is so sad when we cut through the statistics and focus on a one young man who gave his all to fight for our freedom, Thanks and respects Mr. Deen, may your memory never diminish
Hi, ever time I hear this story of this brave airman, it hits me way beyond where I live.
RIP brave airman, Loyce!!!!
Yes, there is a video clip in the " Victory at sea" 1952 series looks like the same event I happened to see last night... They also burried several other people the same day...
My father was drafted at age 36, saw action as a landing craft driver taking the army to several invasion beaches in New Guinea and later in the Philippines... when watching the landings there, its quite likely that my father was driving one of the landing craft seen in that victory at sea episode... makes it really personal... he only talked about his service once... typical for those who served in most wars...
Coincidence, Lewis. My dad was an Army company commander and made all the amphib landings along the northern coast of New Guinea. Then made the landing in Lingayen Bay on Luzon on Jan 6, 1945. Wounded twice and a Bronze Star for valor. Who knows? Maybe they were in the same landing craft; stranger things have happened...
They were called the Great Generation and I am afraid there will never be another like them.
Definitely NOT today. Far too many trying to find their "safe place"
I mean in order to have another “great generation” Would require the same brutality an suffering of the 2nd Great War. Which I’m glad has not happen. If you seen war you wish with every fiber in your body that it never happens again
Yes yuhuuuuuuuu now you got rainbow generation.... wawwwww yuhuuuuuuuu.......viva le rainbow generation...
Any generation would have done what they did. No generation is better or worse - just different. Personally today's generation has more of a mess to clean up after the ecological vandalism the boomer generation has done.
Heart moving documentary. That gunner's mate made the ultimate sacrifice for us all.
Two of my uncles were shot down over Europe...one lived one died... another came ashore in Normandy D Day, 1944... another was a mechanic for the bombers in England...
Fuckin hell. War stories usually dont choke me up but this one did especially seeing actual footage of the funeral and the avenger being pushed overboard
Yes this one is tough to watch for sure. Hits hard.
@@TJ3that avenger went over the edge perfectly. Perfect symmetry and it fell with the heaviness of a purpose-built War machine. he was surrounded by many friends before being committed to the deep. I was a flight line mechanic in the military and I would have been so honored to ride on the landing gear of the aircraft as it was taxied To its final position as you saw the men in the video
Having real ( film) footage to back up the video , adds realism to a very touching moment in history
God Bless you Loyce, you did what you knew you had to do. If you had opted to the hospital, there would be no shame, but your Pilot would have to work with a new unfamiliar crew member. You didn't let them down. All wars are won on the backs of men too young and brave to contemplate the dangers around them. They die young and quick.
I was a United States Naval Aircrewman. This is hard to watch. I had a lot to live up to.
If the coordinates were recorded, at least the family should know approximately where he was buried at sea. What I don't understand is why they didn't tear up the Avenger gunners cage and pull out Dean's body. It's not described how tangled he was. Such a sad story for someone so young. A hero. I hope his family were awarded a medal for their son's bravery. Lodge Deen deserved a medal for risking his life and losing it as well. Tragic tragic story. I salute this man.
Just another sad tragic heroic story from war. There are millions to be told.
Dang that’s so sad but so honorable at the same time
A fitting funeral for a Warrior.
Befitting a Viking.
Incredibly brave men 👏
Added to their challenge, unlike a B-17 or a B-25 turret gunners with twin 50's all these guys had was a SINGLE 30 (rifle caliber) cal machine gun to defend their plane with.
Yeah I thought this was outrageous.
@@TJ3
Yes, even the SBD gunners were given twin guns for their open positions after Midway.
Not even the British with all of their developments with single turrets on single engined aircraft used only a single gun, but often went to four guns for their 303's.
I do belive the turret mount on this aircraft was a single. 50 caliber weapon
@@danschneider9921 Correct.
I believe that the turret gun was a .50 caliber mg.
BTW, I have long wondered why such a big, heavy plane wouldn't have had the P&W R-2800, with the biggest 4-bladed prop available (such as the one on the later Corsair or Thunderbolt). Such an improvement could have resulted in an least 50-70 mph increase in top speed.
As an amateur WWII historian for over 40 years now, this is one of the saddest stories I've heard.
I never heard it before, thank you so much for bringing it up to everyone's attention!
Amen 🙏
Here's the USN original footage. ruclips.net/video/LOp5bVB2cJk/видео.html
The full original footage of this is on utube CriticalPast. Very sad to watch.
Very well done, I have not seen such a complete story on this mans loss. Thank you. Go Navy!
That truly brings tears to my eyes. What a testament to a Hero. I have to give a salute , sir, and say to you , I know you have a place at the table of those other great men, who have fought for the freedoms of there countries .
Love finding new channels that cover the smaller WW2 stories thank you sir.
Thanks for watching!
Basically, he was killed by Japanese explosive shells, and the aircraft when it returned to his asircraft carrier was deemed too badly damaged, so they pushed the aircraft over the side without retrieving his body.
I've watched the landing and burial of this craft a few times. Your video here does a wonderful work of providing all the backstory and more human element. RIP all those heroes.
6:06 my father served in that vessel. I have his Bible and had many years with him. Thank you all.
Thanks for all the details of this man. His heroism deserved to known.
Maybe a video on the B-24 "Lady Be Good" found in the late 50s in the North African desert. Not all of the bodies of the crewmen have been found. Just an idea. Thanks!
I just watched a documentary about that one. Such a sad, but interesting story. All but one was found, but there was a report of oil workers finding the last body years before the others were found. They reported it, but never marked the location of the grave if memory serves. So they don't know for sure.
@@xjcrossx ABC made a fictional, ghost story about the incident for TV in 1970. "Sole Survivor" starred Richard Baseheart & William Shatner. "Home Run" was the name of the B-24
Your story's are so great tj most I never knew about thank you sir 😎👍
Thanks Steve!
Actor Paul Newman was an WWII Avenger crew member, first as a turret gunner, then promoted to bombardier /radio operator. I've seen this video many times before, and it must been a horrific mess in that turret.
Story goes, Newman’s pilot on the Bunker Hill had an ear infection; so that particular plane crew was left behind @ Pearl Harbor. The Bunker Hill was hit by a kamikaze that eventually killed nearly 400 of the Bunker Hill’s crew. Had Newman’s pilot not had a medical ailment, he could have been among the killed.
Hope we will find the plane wreckage in the future
It would be considered as a War Grave and should not be touched.
With so many planes that were lost, and how long it has been it make it very hard to find.
My grandfather (dad’s dad) was a gunner on the Avenger bomber, he was at Leyte Gulf, and had turned 21 just a couple days before the battle, the Carrier he severed on was sunk via kamikaze, and the ship that picked him up was lost the same way
My great uncle, was a gunner on the Dewey through the war, (she was a destroyer). For 75 years AFTER ww2 he was still having nightmares and slmetimes he would scream in his sleep "kamikaze incoming on the port" or a simular screem in his sleep. As far as I know she never was hit by one.
Only imagine the fear those crews faced when the Japanese turned kamikaze.
The pilot can't get out of the cockpit and go an check on his gunner - there is no walkway, he would have to climb out on the wing in 170mph wind . Not to mention who would fly the plane ?
I've heard the story, but a bit differently. The way I heard it, the plane wasn't kept together as a mark of respect to the deceased, but simply as one of those awful realities of war: the pressing need to clear the deck and not have wounded or potentially useless aircraft taking up hangar space in a moment of crisis. Due to the pressing needs of time and incoming danger, the decision was taken to give the man as hasty a funeral service as could be afforded to him, and then push his plane overboard to make room for other wounded and get everyone back to their jobs in response to the danger.
We just filmed this. How do you get them out so fast with such high quality? Stay awesome TJ
Because I'm the GOAT
@@TJ3 darn right you are! 🐐
Thanks for covering a story about the Avenger. Hopefully we can get a video on a Japanese Army fighter like the Ki-43 Oscar or Ki-84 Frank.
I have so many on my list. I very much want to cover more Japanese stuff. Hopefully I can get some interviews and commentary on the Japanese planes soon.
@Godot Literally my last video was on a famous German fighter ace.
@Godot What? TJ3 already covered several German planes, and Germany lost the war.
got me all choked up tyvm for bringing this story back to life
Incredible story. This was true in WW II up to current day. There is something about being in battle that creates a seemingly unbreakable bond. There are interviews of soldiers that’ll tell you their greatest fear is not being killed but not being there to fight alongside their brothers/squad. Having never served (regretfully), I don’t pretend to understand it but I respect the heck out of it.
Well said, my thinking too
This very touching story is yet another example of the uncommon valor that was so prevalent in The Greatest Generation. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
😢 amazing to see the actual footage....
The original as well as this video bring to my mind stories My Uncles told of their experiences that are too many for this forum. One of My Uncles Was A machine gunner and told of men right beside Him being shot through the head / helmet . Other’s with mud and gravel embedded in their bodies when a tank drove over a large mine. My Maternal Grandmothers Cousin was in the 7th Infantry Division , He saw action in the Aleutian’s before being Killed In Action on Leyte the Philippines. One of My Dads Older Brother’s My Uncle Bernard was 18 and a combat engineer in the 289th RCT 75th infantry Division when Richard Wiegand stepped into the Tour de Loupe roadway and fire His Bazooka point blank into the rear of a Panther tank. The explosion at such close range killed Him instantly. He was completely dismembered. His action turned the Tide of the Battle of the Bulge in that area and possibly as a whole making it a historic turning point and example of the difference each man can make. Also see The Story of G. I. Joe book and Movie By Ernie Pyle. The Natoma Bay Memorial is also very Moving and a example of the sacrifices made by other air crews on all the other ships and branches of service.
I recall seeing the images and film of this burial at sea many years ago when I was just a teenager. Only now, 70 years since my youth, have I learned the identity of Loyce Deen. This video makes reference to the usual practice of salvaging spares from damaged aircraft. It should be noted that this particular plane was brand new at the time of this incident. Consequently, its sacrifice was all the more significant.
May God greet him with open arms. Amen.
could you please make a video about some japanese ace or about kamikaze pilots? thx
I was deployed in the later days of the Pacific War after being redeployed from the European front only saw minor skirmishes with Japanese holdouts on a few Islands. I'm grateful he and the other guys who went before me cleared the way so I didn't have to fight so hard out there. It was no fun in Europe there was no fun in the Pacific.
The medic that was there is actually still alive.
I saw an interview about 6 weeks ago
They showed photographs never seen before
Thanks for sharing this. What a great story!
To me, I assume that bailing out of the lower crew position in the fuselage of the aircraft would have been difficult, especially if they aircraft was spiraling out of control. It probably would have been much more difficult if you had to exit during a ditching.
My father served in the Navy from 1959 to 1969. He was aboard the USS Essex when it took part in the Cuban Missile Crisis. I am honored to hear the name of the ship in this video but saddened by the sacrifice of Deen. I wonder if my father ever knew this history about the Essex airman.
I remember seeing pictures of that aircraft being pushed overboard never knew the story thank you I do know this that the people that flew and worked on Avengers we're of a different breed I don't care what you think of George bush senior he was one tough dude I've heard other stories about Avenger Pilots. I had the pleasure of having a friend he passed about 4 years ago he flew Wildcats and hellcats he told me the stories about Avenger pilots and their crew his words we got all the glory they did all the hard work thanks for the story
I have come to the decision that a true hero would never consider themselves one, nor what they did was anything more than what needed to or had to be done at the time. THAT is what makes them a hero! Never putting themselves or their safety first and always looking out for their comrades first is the most common trait. RIP Airman Deen. Here almost 80 years later your devotion and deeds are NOT forgotten!
My dad was a radio operator in TBMs at the end of the war. I took him to the TBM Avenger reunion in IL a few years before he passed. He enjoyed, at 93, critiquing the restorations. I believe the cockpit area behind the pilot was not manned. Just equipment. The gunner had no room for a parachute and had to crawl down to where the radio operator was to get his and escape through the side door with the radioman. Only restored birds today have a back seat in the cockpit.
I had an uncle who was a radio operator in an Avenger during the war and from what I gathered from his letters, there was a seat in the middle that the radioman would sit in while en route to target and then he would climb down into the bottom position if they were attacked by Japanese fighters and/or to help aim the torpedo once on target.
Great video. I have seen silent films of the burial at sea but had no commentary of who this patriot was. After 80 years people hear is name for the first time. Thank you.
There was nothing left of him that’s why . The Pilots always got medals . But the enlisted men aft were facing .20 mm shells from the zeros guns and imminent death .
George Herbert Walker Bush was an Avenger pilot and shot down glide bombing Chici Jima. His story is compelling. When he was President, he broke down and cried talking about it, thinking of the loss of his crew who was captured and executed, and eaten.
I actually have the video of his burial
Lost an Uncle around March 25th 1944. Battle of New Britain Rabal Theatre. He was a Marine rear turret gunner on an Avenger. His name was Warren Roessler. Wish I knew more about his last mission , pilot, squadron etc. MY AUNT WASN'T MARRIED VERY LONG BEFORE HE SHIPPED OUT. The lost affected her life deeply. Like so many others.
I'm going to a TBF Avenger fly in this weekend in Peru Illinois. A yearly event (5/17 and 5/18/24). There will be arounf 20 Avengers. My dad was an Avenger pilot in the same theater as Loyce. I'm donating dads flight boots to one of the pilots.
Excellent video
This touches my soul every time I read/watch Loyce's story. I'm sure there are many unknown stories, and gallant actions.
To the men and women, (courageous animals too) thank you for my freedom!
Thank you for sharing. We'll done!
Duty, Honor, Country. It would have been nice to refer to him as a naval airman and give his actual Navy rate/rank (Aviation Machinist's Mate 2nd Class or Petty Officer 2nd Class) as opposed to just airman. I suspect he was proud of his rank/rate and naval service.
It makes sense. The plane was damaged so badly that it was going to be pushed overboard anyway, and his body was so badly mangled that getting it out would be difficult, and he would have been buried at sea anyway. So might as well let the plane he fought and died in be his coffin.
As a very avid WW2 buff, I admittingly never heard of this story before, but found it to be very heroic and honorable. The story is very well said, with the utmost respect and honor given, to such a courageous young man. And as another commenter mentions below, herein is yet another story about a man among the thousands of others who gave the ultimate sacrifice, in the defense of our freedoms and way of life here in North America and throughout all of the Western world.
Very well put together and thank you very much for sharing!
As an old Navy Veteran, and with great respect, I agree with the burial at sea in the plane.
A true hero, RIP!
Another great program! Thank you.
Men die like flies in war. I suspect this particular story only persists because we have the rather unsettling film taken of his 'final journey'. I doubt very much that he was the only airman sent to a watery grave in this way.
My great grandfather was a bombadier on an American bomber over Italy. He once had to manually realese all the bombs on the plane due to a malfunction on a four inch cat walk over the sky with a screwdriver. The reason was because the bombs were altitude controlled and if the plane tried to land they would have blown up. Another story was when he was shot down over Italy and he had to parachute down. He had to survive from nazis for 2 weeks on the ground before rescue. He lived through the war.