The crew accredited with 15 Japanese planes shot down in 200 hours of combat flying over six month period. On first mission they destroyed a Japanese transport. Also accredited with destruction of much Japanese military and naval installations and shipping. All the crew of his B-24 was lost when rammed in mid-air by a Japanese plane off-shore from their target, Macassar in the Dutch Celebes Islands. Their bomber and the Japanese plane both sank upon hitting the water. They were all Killed in Action off the Dutch Celebes Islands on June 23, 1943,