Tribute

A portrait of Leland Davis surrounded by his family.

Ensign Leland LaFroy Davis, US Navy Service #0-146517, Mississippi

The following is based on an article by Leann Davis Alspaugh, previously published in The Hedgehog Review.

The snow-clogged islands [Aleutians] were considered strategically important and the push to wrest control of them from the Japanese took more than a year.  Brian Garfield chronicled this “forgotten battle” vividly in his 1969 book, “The Thousand-Mile War.”  A small section of that book details the actions of Leann’s uncle, Leland Davis.

Ensign Davis and his crew flew as part of a squadron of PBY-5A Catalinas.  Hardly fighter planes, the Catalinas were designed to transport men and equipment; they nevertheless proved to be valuable assets in the siege of Kiska Harbor.  In Garfield’s words, the planes looked like “a brood of huge chicks” as they went into action supplying fuel, oil, parts, ammunition and bombs to the men on the ground and in the air.

Maneuvering a PBY out of the ice.

On 10 June 1942, Davis sighted a Japanese super-submarine off Tanaga and dropped bombs and depth-charges.  The sub turned out to be an I-boat sent to pick up the pilot of a downed Zero and was merely damaged by Davis’ actions.  The following day, the ensign and his crew were ordered to prepare to attack Kiska Harbor with everything they had regardless of the weather.

Following the attack of the First Air Force on Kiska, the Catalinas set off, heavily loaded down and experiencing poor visibility, the planes and pilots began to show the strain.  Flying low, the crews began to hear the brittle airframes crack and pop and watched warily as the wings flapped like a bird’s.

US Navy Cross

 

After his first bombing run, Davis returned with his damaged aircraft to reload and refuel.  He also brought back a crewman KIA.  Ready to go, he flew back out to rejoin the blitz which would continue for 3 more days.  The Japanese kept up a steady stream of antiaircraft fire and before long the crews nicknamed Kiska the “PBY Elimination Center.”

It was first thought that Ensign Davis’ plane crashed in the water after being hit by machine-gun fire.  In 2002, Leland’s sister received a phone call from a genealogist saying that her brother’s body had been found.  A Canadian biologist studying near Kiska Volcano discovered a life vest, parachute, 2 parachute packs, leather boots and a sweater.  The Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command excavated the site and unearthed the aircraft and the remains of 7 servicemen in 2003.

Today, all seven rest in peace under a common marker that states, “Aircraft Accident – Alaska, June 14, 1942.”  Elwin Alford, Albert J. Gyorfi, John H. Hathaway, Dee Hall, Robert F. Keller, Robert A. Smith and Leland L. Davis, the Eternal PBY Crew.

Click on images to enlarge.

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And the Cold goes on….

WAKE UP!!

WHO LEFT THE GARAGE OPEN?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Farewell Salutes – 

John Brisko – Mountain View, NY; US Army (Ret. 22 years), Vietnam

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Dennis Crooke – Paeroa, NZ; RNZ Army # 632212, WWII, J Force

Robert Fewster – Ballarat, AUS; RA Air Force # 449872

Kyle Halford – Fayetteville, Ar, US Army, Afghanistan, 21st Signal

Melvin Knapp – Vine Grove, KY; US Army, Korea, Vietnam

Ruth Lang – Sheboygan, WI; US Navy WAVE, WWII, nurse

Cecil Matthews – Houston, TX; US Army, WWII, ETO

Ralph Reeder Sr. – Dakota Dunes, SD; US Army Air Corps, WWII, ETO

David Thomas Sr. – Mobile, AL; US Army, Korea, MP

Iver Sonderby – Kingman, AZ & ND; US Navy, Korea, Chief Petty Officer 3rd Class

Ronald Weber – Emmett, ID; US Navy, Vietnam, SeaBee, dog trainer, Purple Heart

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