Fatal Error:
The Final Flight of a Navy WWII Patrol Bomber
by Gary D. Cooper
I love the random way books can come into our lives.
I was having lunch with a dear friend at her retirement community—a place with as much bustle as my college campus had—when a friend of hers, Nels, joined us. As conversation will do when I’m involved in it, we got around to books. Since I had just finished reading “Best True Stories of World War II,” Nels told us about book concerning his wife’s uncle.
Maurine Unrath’s uncle Edward Calhoun was killed in the Pacific near the end of World War II. Many stories of the war make me very sad, but I find the losses in the last few months of the battles tend to get to me even more. So close, I think, to coming home. Yet, things happen—bravery and heroism were strong and apparent right up until the last mission.
The author, Gary D. Cooper, eloquently tells the story of how his quest to write this book started. A suitcase, abandoned with the rest of the sidewalk garbage, catches the eye of a woman. She takes it inside, glances through the detritus of someone’s life, then tucks it away. Eventually, the find makes it’s way onto Mr. Cooper’s path and, as a retired Navy Commander, he is immediately intrigued.
A journey undertaken
He sets out on a long journey, tracking down family members, using military sources, and his own understanding of conversations likely to take place between men on dangerous missions, and weaves a compelling tale.
My great uncle Lloyd Naugle was killed in the D-Day landings at Normandy beach. Or so we were always told. I eventually got as far in that search as to discover that he was injured during the assault, but hung on for sometime before finally passing away. A dashingly handsome young man, I always wished I knew more about his time in the service and how he met his end.
For me, then, reading this book was a must.
Eddie Calhoun was from McKeesport, Pennsylvania. He served under DeLand Joseph Croze, Patrol Plane Commander, as the Junior Radioman aboard their PBM-5. They were shot down by Japanese forces near Borneo. All eleven US Navy men were brutally, horrifically killed by the Japanese.
In addition to their loss, three Australians servicemen were killed while trying to save them.
Knowing the ending ahead of time didn’t make the anticipation of reading the story any less exciting. Mr. Cooper, wrote a plausible narrative of events he wasn’t privy to and brings to the light a story too long shut away in the confines of a metal suitcase.
So this is an interesting find….This book Fatal Error, by; Gary D Cooper. It’s about WW2’s Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-20 – Crew #110 assigned to the Seaplane Tender USS Pocomoke (AV-9). I had originally heard this story many years ago from my Grandfather (Robert Bartruff) who was of the same Squadron – Crew #4 that was also assigned to the same Seaplane Tender USS Pocomoke (AV-9). He knew all of these men well from their time together when not on patrols. His crew #4 also participated in their search and partial rescue and later retaliation. I have photos, including some… Read more »
Gosh, Gene, I am so happy to read your comment! It is amazing that your grandfather knew these fellows. This book really touched my heart. I look forward to hearing from you after you read it. I am learning so much reading these books about WWII. There is such a lot to know.
Gary D Cooper did a wonderful job telling the story of these men. For me it was a very emotional read, as it was so tragic and it was a story my grandfather (my mentor and best friend) lived and carried with him his entire life. I’m very happy to have a better understanding of what happened now. My grandfather never told the story until he was 82 years old (2006) when he first told me and my sons what happened. He also talked about how he was in a regular card game with Aaron Hunt on the Tender and… Read more »
Gene, thank you so much for adding to this story from such a personal perspective. You Grandfather would have faced so many difficult choices, and I can understand why that one about the sub was particularly haunting. How wonderful that you had him for so many years–it’s never enough, though, when we love and admire someone! I wonder if Mr. Cooper would appreciate hearing from you? War leaves so many of us with holes and unanswered questions–sharing with each other makes all the difference. Thank you for reading, Gene. You would probably like to read “The Last Fighter Pilot,” for… Read more »
Thanks RoseMary,
I’ll give “The Last Fighter Pilot” a read…. It would be interesting to talk with Mr. Cooper, for sure.
I should have directed you to this review as well, Gene. https://www.musingsfromaredhead.com/fatal-error-the-final-flight-of-a-navy-wwii-patrol-bomber/
Gene you can contact me by email at garycooper78 @ hotmail .com. GaryCooper. I would love to chat with you about your grandfather.
I am the woman who found the suitcase and would like to have as much articles of these young heroes as I can get they are very special to me
Hi Betty, Perhaps if you reach out to the author, he can help with this. What a great story.
I am a friend of Gary and have all of the information he has and would like as much as I can get form anyone else thank you
Gene, It is tragic how the next generation can be affected by the atrocities of war. I am the nephew if Joe Harvey, he was my father’s big brother and was executed on his birthday. My father was turning one when Joe lost his life. As a result, my grandmother never celebrated my father’s birthday. It tragically coincided with this event and it was too painful. She referred to my father as her “one and only.” There are many stories that my dad told my sister and I growing up. Among them was that Joe was a fighter. He was… Read more »
Richard, thank you for commenting on this post, book, and close-to-your-family event. I cannot imagine the pain in your family of having both a birth and a death on the same day. Especially such a tragic, sad loss.