Seeking Information On My Father

[WyThorp]

His name is Ben P Thorp. He served from 41-45, so I am guessing that he was part of the Jolly Rogers from 42-44. He was a staff sergeant and tail gunner. His discharge papers says that he did New Guinea, Northern Solomons, Eastern Mandates, and Bismark Archipelago. Unfortunately he died when I was too little to learn much so I have no idea what unit he might have been in or if it was multiple units. He had several medals which most Jolly Rogers probably got. Thanks for any and all help. Wesley

[Bob Tupa]

These are two entries from Loyde Adams' postwar list. Ben was a gunner on the Charles Arnold crew in the 319th Squadron. He was wounded in action on Nov 18, 1943 and returned to duty. He and his crew received credit for shooting down 3 enemy planes.

ARNOLD, CHARLES W. #735016, 319th Sqdn. crew # 1, Tilton, Ralphn E. 674650, (cp), Shenker, Herbert P. #798892, (n), Ritch, Harold E. #735926, (b), Karmanik, Charles Jr. #13040290, (e), Price, Frank L. #15105704, (ro), Shoup, John W. #35467575, (g), Shevchuck, Wasel #31080454, (g), Thorp, Ben P. #14050884, (g), Wierbicki, Constance F. #13115789, (g). From my microfilm # 1818, dated 11-8-1943.

ARNOLD, CHARLES W. #735016, 319th Sqdn. crew # 2, Tilton, Ralph E. #674650, (cp), Milder, Francis G. #733453, (n), Ritch, Harold E. #735926, (b), Kormanik, Charles J. Jr. #13040290, (e), Price, Frank L. #15105704, (ro), Thorp, Ben P. #14050884, (g), Shoup, John W. #35467575, (g), Shevchuck, Wasel #31080454, (g), Wierbicki, Constance F. 13115789, (g). From Peterson’s orders, 11-8-1943 credit 1 zero, their plane crashed 11-18-1943, all W I A & R T D.

[Bob Tupa]

Post war order for crew credits for enemy aircraft shot down by 5th air force bomb groups.

[Bob Tupa]

The 319th is the only squadron I have been able to find that did a list of the planes they were credited. If you look under the name of the pilot Arnold you will see the date and target of the missions where they shot down the planes.