Diving back in to my family’s military history during WWII. Realized today that moth my great-uncles were on #Guadalcanal November 14-15th with different USAAF units, one a fighter pilot, the other a bomber co-pilot.
That night was hell on earth as the Japanese shelled the crap out of Henderson in support of their last ditch effort to take the island back. The morning of the 15th Uncle Bill took off with the other B-26Bs from the 70thBS and knocked the crap out of the landing party.
Then, there not being enough fuel on the island, turned and headed to Espiritu Santo. Their plane would never make it. They ditched in 20-30 foot seas at over 150 mph. All 7 member of the crew were declared MIA/KIA (and potentially a Marine hitching a ride).
But I sit here tonight thinking: did these two brothers from a farm in South Mississippi see each other that night? Did they know the other was on that god-forsaken island? As they were shelled, did they know the other was being shelled too?
Everyone who can answer that question is dead now. We may never know. But I’m quietly working, and maybe, one day, I’ll be able to write their story, two farm boys flying in paradise, far, far from home. 
@threadreaderapp unroll me
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