LEGEND OF HEWITT “BUCK” DUNN

By Dewayne Bennett

He was born in Newport News, Virginia in 1921 and was a star athlete at Bethany College. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corp, became a gunner and was ultimately assigned to the 390th Bomb Group. He started flying combat missions January 29,1944. He did not take a leave, time off, or return to the United States until the end of the war. He flew the astonishing total of 104 Combat Missions. According to an article in “Stars and Stripes” around early November 1944, Buck Dunn had said, “I want to go home just as much if not more than any fellow, but I can’t until the fight here is finished.” He flew 104 combat missions in the European Theater for the 390th Bomb Group then when the war broke out in Korea he flew 64 more. There is little known about him outside of the 390th Group.

Consider other heroes:
Lt. Col. Immanuel Klette, of the 306th and 91st Bomb Groups, died Feb. 12, 1988. Because of his heroic war record of flying 91 missions with the 8th Air Force in WW II, he was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. His burial was given much publicity. The record says, “He flew more missions than any other pilot in the 8th Air Force.”

Maurice “Mike” Malone from Spiro, Oklahoma, flew 29 missions with the 390th Bomb Group, 57lst Squadron. He started flying combat however, in Africa and Italy. He flew 50 missions in his tour there. After returning to the United States, he became a gunnery instructor training gunners combat tactics. He became bored doing this and volunteered for a tour in the 8th Air Force and was assigned to the 390th Bomb Group to the Peter E. Stene’s crew. This became a lead crew and flying a PFF mission exploded over the channel on returning from the target. The entire crew was KIA except for Lt. Jim Keelan who parachuted into the water and was lucky enough to be picked up. “Mike” Malone had flown about 15 missions with this crew, and was upset that all his friends had died. In all, he flew 29 missions with the 390th making a total of 79 missions to his credit.

Master Sgt. Clarence Campbell, of the 401st Bomb Group, had a difficult time getting into the service. He had a bad back, had several children, and was 30 years old. He tried the Army, Navy, Marines, and finally on his 14th try he succeeded in enlisting in the US Army Air Corp. Like “Buck” Dunn he wanted combat. He flew 50 missions in Italy, and then transferred to the 8th Air Force. If headquarters stood him down to long, he would complain to the commanding officer who would see he got on a mission. On a leave he went with his brother, who was an infantry officer, He spent two weeks with the advancing US infantry in France. He flew a total of 32 missions with the 401st making his total 82 combat missions.

“Buck Dunn”: 
There is a story, told by Col. Moller, when he (Col. Moller) encountered “Buck” Dunn near the “Rocker Club” (the NCO club) late one evening. Dunn had an enlisted man, passed out, under each arm. He dropped the two men, and executed a proper salute to the Col. without missing a beat he picked up the two enlisted men and continued on his way.

Several years ago at a Tucson Reunion, a bombardier (I have forgotten his name) told me about the briefing for bombardiers. They would watch “Buck” Dunn. He would come into the briefing room, sit down in a chair and lean back, using the back two legs of the chair. After the curtain was drawn and the target was exposed if Dunn stayed leaned against the wall, the other bombardiers relaxed. It was a milk run. However if Dunn leaned forward and had all four legs of the chair on the floor, then the bombardiers knew it was a tough mission. Their apprehensive levels went sky high, and they sweated out the mission.

In the 390th Veterans Association/Foundation Newsletter for the summer of 1990, William M. MacVicar, co-pilot, 569th Squadron wrote an article “Not So Typical Day in The Life of A Bomber Crew.” He writes about “Buck” Dunn, flying on his 94th mission (3-21-45) as top turret/engineer, for his first and only time in that position, becoming unhooked from his oxygen regulator and collapsing in the top turret. Because of his size he had fallen with his head in a position difficult to get an oxygen mask on. The pilot, Lt. Mel Meyers, got out of his seat to administer oxygen to “Buck” now passed out himself. The co-pilot (MacVicar) was diving the plane to get to a lower altitude, and the navigator helped revive the two downed crewman. They had left the formation, and headed for home. Lt. Meyers revived, and flew the plane home. He ultimately received a Distinguished Flying Cross for helping out a downed crewman.

Dick Cowles flew about 15 missions with “Buck” Dunn and had a great admiration for him. Dick Cowles maintains that “Buck” could anticipate and call out flak bursts and tells the story of a mission to Duisburg, Germany, 1-28-45. Just before the target a four gun battery had fired and “Buck” Dunn had called out, “Watch out they are going to get us!” The next bursts (about 20 seconds later) one shell went through the floor and the ceiling of the radio room. The next four gun burst was behind Dick Cowle’s tail gunner’s position. Lt. Shira, the pilot, called all positions on the intercom to assess the damage. The plane had shot up in altitude when the shell exploded, and slammed down just as suddenly. Only Dick Cowles answered the pilots call on the interphone. The pilot told him to come forward and check out the damage. Cowles crawled out of his position with a walk-around bottle and found both waist gunners out. He administered to them and then went forward to the radio room. There was tangled metal around the ball turret, one side of the radio room bulkhead was blown out and the radio transmitters were gone. The radio man was on the floor. Cowles remembers seeing a tangled mess of control cables, the radio room bulkhead gone, and tangled metal over the ball turret. Cowles first got oxygen to the radio man, then called the pilot and notified him of the damage. Lt. Shira had put the plane on automatic pilot and came to the back to assess the damage to the control cables. Then with help from a revived crewmember, they removed the ball turret gunner who was OK. Without hesitation Lt. Shira continued over the target, flying on automatic pilot and “Buck” Dunn triggered the bombs away when the group dropped. This was Dunn’s 83rd mission, and none of them had been easy.

Hewitt “Buck” Dunn deserves an honored place in the 390th Memorial Museum. He is the only airman for whom our Museum founders have authorized a special plaque. He is an honest to God hero, and did what no other of the 300,000 members of the Mighty 8th Air Force did. He stands head and shoulders above the rest. There were 42 bomb groups in the 8th Air Force. There was only one man who managed to fly over 100 combat missions. “Buck” Dunn did it 104 times flying first initially as a tail gunner (32 missions), a waist gunner (one mission), as top turret (one mission) and a toggelier (70 missions). He was one of a kind.

“Buck” Dunn has been shoved aside in history. We have told you he liked alcohol, and it contributed to his tragic death in Victorville, CA (George Air Force Base) in 1961. He was 40 years old. Yet when I inquired of the Victorville Police Dept, the Victorville Library, the Victorville Chamber of Commerce, and the local newspaper I can not come up with any information. It is almost as if he never existed.

I wonder where he is buried, and if his record is engraved on the tombstone.