S/Sgt Elson B Hood was the Radio Operator/Gunner in the Lester Flight Crew. The Lester crew joined the 819th Bombardment Squadron in Apr 1944 at Wheeler Field on Oahu. They began combat operations in Aug 1944 after the 819th BS moved to Saipan. They completed their required 40 missions in Jan 1945.

Members of the Lester flight crew were:

Raymond N Lester (Pilot)

William C Kirby (Co-Pilot)

Robert M Cunningham (Navigator)

George V Weisz (Bombardier)

Earl L Brightwell (Engineer)

Elson B Hood (Radio Operator)

Francis J Meehan (Radar Operator on 20 missions)

Milton C Kounovsky (Ass't Engineer)

Frederick T Choquette (Ass't Radio Operator)

Jerrold E Larson (Gunner)

Robert A Wendt (Gunner)

In the last couple months of the bombardment of Iwo Jima there was a collaboration between the Air Force and Navy. B-24s carried a naval spotter who watched (out one of the waist windows) where the Navy's salvos landed, and radioed in corrections to their aiming.

Six of the B-24s stayed over Iwo Jima for 30-45 minutes after bombs were dropped. In order to do this they carried an extra fuel tank that ran the length of the plane. They flew as low as 250 feet, as part of their spotting mission. The gunners also strafed the men and materials on Iwo Jima. The B-24 crews were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their valor.

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Tallahassee, Florida · Thursday, January 04, 1945

Quincy Aviator Plasters Japs

Lt R N Lester Tells Of Raid on Iwo Jima

• A 7TH AAF HEAVY BOMBER BASE IN THE MARIANAS—Six Liberator bombers of the Seventh AAF teamed up with a navy task force to plaster ammunition and fuel dumps on the Jap-held island of Iwo Jima, it was related by Lt Raymond N Lester. Quincy, pilot of the Jeeter Bug. which participated in the operation.

After the flight of 7th AAF Liberators hit the targets, navy air observers aboard the bombers spotted installations which escaped the aerial bombardment, and immediately big guns of the surface craft opened fire. “We were circling the at low level after our bomb run.” said Lt Lester, “when the navy observer saw an ammunition dump at the end of the runway still standing. He gave directions to the task force, and soon shells were exploding near the position.

“There was a terrific explosion and columns of sparks and white smoke shot into the sky Another salvo, directed toward harbor installations hit what was probably a fuel dump. Sheets of flame leaped into the air, and a huge black column of smoke arose. “As we left for our base, fires were raging throughout the whole area. Unquestionably, great damage had been done.” The raid was one of the most destructive air and naval attacks! waged in the Pacific theater.

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Missions flown by the Lester flight crew from Saipan:

Date/Target: 10 Aug 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 14 Aug 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 17 Aug 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 21 Aug 1944 - Yap Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 23 Aug 1944 - Yap Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 26 Aug 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 29 Aug 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 3 Sep 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 5 Sep 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 8 Sep 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Puddle Jumper, #42-109829

Date/Target: 11 Sep 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 14 Sep 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 16 Sep 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 20 Sep 1944 - Marcus Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 22 Sep 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 24 Sep 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

There was a one month pause in combat missions while they had a furlough back in Hawaii, "[They were] there to do nothing but loll on the beach at Waikiki or to visit one of the many ranches, scattered throughout the islands."

Date/Target: 21 Oct 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 25 Oct 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 2 Nov 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 6 Nov 1944 - Haha Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 14 Nov 1944 - Woleai Atoll ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 18 Nov 1944 - Chichi Jima Shipping ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 24 Nov 1944 - Chichi Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 27 Nov 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 30 Nov 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 6 Dec 1944 - Pagan Island ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 8 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 12 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 17 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 20 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 24 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 27 Dec 1944 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 3 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 5 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 13 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 17 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 20 Jan 1945 - Haha Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 24 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

Date/Target: 28 Jan 1945 - Iwo Jima ----------Airplane: B-24: Jeeter Bug, #44-40661

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More information about the 30th Bombardment Group:

30th Bombardment Group (Heavy)

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