Twin Falls County ID Archives Obituaries.....Bevins, Lieut. Rex J. April 6, 1943 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Katie Young kdebleeker@earthlink.net November 28, 2005, 3:51 pm Twin Falls, Idaho WWII 1943 Obit Rex J. Bevins Twin Falls, Twin Falls, Idaho WWII 1943 Obit Killed in Action LIEUT. REX J. BEVINS ...Who is reported killed in action in the Asiatic area April 6. He was a pilot in the army air forces. (Staff Engraving) * * * FLIER, 28, KILLED IN ASIATIC AREA Lieut. Rex J. Bevins, 28, Twin Falls photographer, was killed in action April 6 in the Asiatic area, according to a war department telegram received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Bevins, 151 Third avenue north. Lieutenant Bevins, who was a pilot in the army air forces, first enlisted in the Canadian air force before the United States entered the war. Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor he asked for a transfer to the United States army, and this was effected about a year ago. Born in Utah, Lieutenant Bevins came to Twin Falls at an age which saw him receiving his first schooling here. The family moved to Bend, Ore., after many years here, and he finished high school at that place. He was part-owner of the Album, Twin Falls photographic studio, which is operated by his father. Additional Comments: The following is an account of Rex Bevins death from a diary of a soldier that was their. This was from The Web Home of The 341st Bomb Group. -- Life and Times of the 341st Bomb Group -- "Preserving the memory of their sacrifices!" Toddling About ( Jan - Jun 43 ) December 1942 had been a dismal month for the CATF. Items like soap, warm clothing and mail were in short supply; fighters and bombers were grounded for days because of bad weather and a lack of supplies. The Hump airlift failed to deliver all of the 1,998 tons of supplies Chennault had been promised each month. The CATF got only 300 tons of supplies over the Hump in January 1943, 400 tons in February and 615 tons in March. CATF fighters flew a few strafing missions into Burma during January, despite a fuel shortage so acute that Chennault forbade victory rolls. The CATF's gasoline supply was nearly exhausted after those missions, and its planes were grounded for 33 days. The India-based squadrons of the Group fully entered into combat early in 1943 and operated chiefly against enemy transportation in central Burma. One of the responsibilities for the squadrons was the destruction of the enemy land transport system. Railyards and rolling stock came under attack by the B-25s of the 341st. They bombed the bridges, locomotives and other targets to delay movement of supplies to the Japanese troops fighting in northern Burma. On January 8, 1943, Maj. Frank Sharp was sent to the hospital at New Delhi, India. Capt. Robert S. Puckett assumed command of the 22nd Bm Sq following Maj. Sharp's transfer. In mid-January, Lt. Col. Bayse was relieved of command of the 11th Bm Sq and joined 341st Hq. When Bayse was transferred to HQ 10th Air Force, Maj. James A. Philpott was relieved of command of the 490th, and assigned as 341st Group Executive officer. Capt. Robert D. McCarten assumed command of the 490th. On March 27, Maj. Blair M. Sorenson was relieved of command of the 491st and assigned as Group S-3 Officer. Capt. Edward M. Garrett assumed command of the 491st. After a six-day train ride from Karachi, the majority of the 491st personnel arrived at Chakulia, India. The air echelon arrived almost simultaneously, circling over the airfield while the 'grounded' squadron mates exited from the train. The remainder, transportation and special duty personnel who had departed Karachi on 30 December in a motorcade, arrived on the evening of 9 Jan. This nearly coincided with the 491st's first combat mission. On 10 Jan 43, Maj. Blair Sorenson, Commander, led a flight of three B-25Cs from Chakulia to bomb the Mytinge Bridge in Burma. Although no direct hits were scored, fires near the bridge were started by the bombs. Heavy, accurate anri-aircraft fire was encountered and slightly damaged one aircraft, although no crew members were injured. The Air Echelon of Group Headquarters departed Malir, India on January 9, 1943, and arrived at Chakulia, India on 10 January. The Echelon consisted of five (5) officers; Colonel Torgils Wold, Group Commander; Capt. R. O. Nelson, Group Adjutant; Cap. Harold L. Lewis, Group S-2; Capt. Alexander A. Lansberg, Group S-3; and Capt. Roy F. Galloway, Group S-4; and two (2) enlisted men. After a The first combat sortie for the "Skull & Wings" (490th) occurred on 18 Feb 43, when six gulls (B-25s) flew a mission against the Sagaing, Burma, railroad yards. The Squadron completed their combat initiation with four more missions by the end of the month, with no losses. A mission of twelve aircraft, four from each of the 22nd, 490th and 491st, led by Capt McElroy (22nd) bombed the Gokteik Viaduct on 24 Feb. During the mission the 491st suffered its first combat casualty when 2Lt. Carl G Wofford, co-pilot on Maj. Sorenson's (C.O. 491st) plane was struck by fire from a Jap 01. The heartbreak and sacrifice of war was driven home to the members of the 490th on 5 Apr 43, as twelve aircraft were beginning a mission. All were loaded with bombs, including 'wing' bombs. The first flight was already airborne and circling high over the field at Kurmitola, India, as 1Lt William H. Stephens applied full throttle for takeoff. For unknown reasons the plane never left the ground, lurching off the runway, entering and breaking up in a drainage ditch. The craft was totally destroyed by the burning fuel and exploding munitions, with the loss of all the crew. The entire Squadron attended the funeral of Lt Stephens, 2Lt. REX J. BEVINS, 2Lt Karl H. French, SSgt Carl J. Temperate, and Sgt Walter J. Cserwinski, all of them were buried in the Asansol English Cemetary. Jan - May 1943 Losses: Killed In Action, 1 May 43; 490th Bm Sq: Capt. John Y. Christy (p), 2Lt. William T. Hennessy, Jr. (cp), 1Lt. Robert L. Plagens (n). As the aircraft lifted off the runway at Kurmitola, India, the left engine quit. The left wing dipped into the ground, cartwheeling the aircraft and throwing Lt. Henry L. Groeninger (b) clear of the aircraft before the fuel and bombs began exploding. With committed single-mindedness Lt Groeninger rushed to the wreckage and assisted the severely injured SSgt's James S. Mcauliffe (r-g) and William W. Harbes (a-g) away. Missing In Action, about 10 May 43; 490th Bm Sq: Capt. Louis A. Delapp (p), 2Lt. Francis B. Everall (cp), 2Lt. Henry W. Johnson (b), SSgt Harold D. Richardson, SSgt Horace J. Staples. The nine aircraft on the mission had completed bombing the Thazi Rail Road junction. They were attacked by an ME-109 and ten, or more Zeros, making individual passes from the front and sides of the formation. Capt Delapp was leader of Flight B, and when his aircraft was hit and fell away. Debrieifng reports stated that the aircraft was seen recovering about 500 feet above the ground, but it never made it back to home base. Missing In Action, on/about 19 May 43; 490th Bm Sq: Lt. Robert A. Coons (p), Lt. Horeen (cp?), 2Lt. Perry F. Von Schaik (b), SSgt Miller, Cpl. Martin W. Beckman (g). Following a succesful bombing of the Ghauk Workshop Buildings, nine aircraft led by Capt McCarten (C.O.) were intercepted by 25 enemy aircraft south of Mount Victoria, at approximately 1015 hours. About 25 minutes into the vicious attack by the fighters, coming from all sides - staying in the blind spots, Lt. Coons aircraft was seen to fall out of formation, apparently badly hit. Immediately enemy aircraft concentrated on this plane. All crew were seen to abandon the crippled bomber, and the observers also the fighters attacking the parachutes, with at least three collapsing. Four days later the only survivor, Cpl. Beckman had walked out to and advanced British base in spite of four wounds he had received. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/twinfalls/obits/b/bevins13nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/idfiles/ File size: 8.5 Kb