I learned about my cousin Robert Cosbie who was a Naval Aviator flying off the carrier USS Bennington during WWII. My cousin along with his crew was shot down on February 23, 1945, and all were listed as KIA. Jesse Naul a decorated Naval Aviator who was flying in the division behind my cousin when he was shot down sent me the following information. As they were approaching the waterfront installations at around 9000 feet altitude they came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. Jesse Naul, saw Robert’s plane get hit by the anti-aircraft fire and his right wing was blown off. He said Robert’s plane went into a spin and crashed into Lt. King’s plane. The propeller on Robert’s plane took off about four feet of the left wing and damaged the fuselage aft of the rear gun turret on Lt. King’s plane. Jesse said the plane then broke free and spun on down and crashed into the sea. Jesse said he saw no parachutes from Robert’s plane as it went down. He and his crew, John Louis Gerig and Gilbert Reynolds were presumed lost and later listed as Killed in Action. There is a memorial at the Punch Bowl National Cemetery in Hawaii to honor all those lost at sea during World War Two. On it you can find Robert’s name. May he rest in peace along with all the others. Lt. King starting to lose control of his plane. He ordered his crew to bail out. As he started to lose altitude he was able to regain some control of his plane and was able to make it back to the task force and made a water landing and was rescued. His crew Grady Alvah and James Wesley were captured by the Japanese and never heard from again.

Richard G. Cosbie, Cousin