Twenty-seven. He was training other PBY pilots as a "Cadet" when Kaneohe (TH) was attacked—decimating the squadron he was to ultimately be assigned. (VP-11).
Book excerpt: Found inside –
Page 185 DATE TYPEBUNO BASE LOST AREA PILOT FATE Flannery, USNR; Co-Pilot ENS George S. Clute, USNR; ENS ... 11 August 1942. ... was now with VP-23 and sitting on NAS Pearl Harbor, Ford Island, Oahu, HI. ... LTJG G. B. KENNINGTON S 09/19/43 PBY-5 08327 BRISBANE AUSTRALIA SW PAC While performing night missions, parachute flares are dropped out of ... A. Christensen; LT Miller; AP1c L. A. Conter; ACMM G. L. Chase; AMM3c A. F. Sellers; ARM2c John C. Lawson, Jr.; …
Flares caught fire aft, plane burned and sank. No casualties.
AP1c L. A. Conter was on the Arizona, converted to "enlisted" pilot.
That’s quite a harrowing story. What a time! Thanks for sharing.
My Dad was born in 1918 and was in CBI Theater of War. Over the Hump, kicked out of the area with Gen. Stillwell, etc.