Jay Zeamer and His Eager Beavers

On 16 June 1943 a lone B-17 took off from New Guinea on a photo-recon mission over the Northern Solomon Islands. This mission would quickly enter into legend. Pilot Jay Zeamer received the Medal of Honor for the mission. Bombardier Joseph Sarnoski received the Medal of Honor posthumously. Every other crew member received the Distinguish Service Cross. All but two aboard received the Purple Heart.

The cable show Dogfights presented their story in a compelling video that includes interviews with Zeamer and co-pilot J.T. Britton. It's about ten minutes long and worth watching.

 

 

For anyone interested in more information on this amazing feat of arms, the website "Zeamer's Eager Beavers" is an excellent place to start. The website has available a twenty page PDF article providing much background on the mission and a vivid description of the battle:

 

The Japanese are getting frustrated and angry as they fall into the Beavers’ well-practiced trap. Two, three, four more are hit. Some smoking, some spraying oil, they peel off by one by one. And still, forty minutes into the engagement, there are more. Zeamer has been losing blood for three-quarters of an hour, and still, with both arms and a leg wounded, the other leg broken and useless, is in full command of the Fortress, violently evading the persistent attackers—and without rudder pedals. Finally, running low on fuel and ammunition, worn down by the tenacious Fortress’ agile defense, astonished at its pilot’s supernatural will, the final Japanese fighter retires to home. ’666 is alone once more.

Give it a read, you'll be glad you did. It also dispels many myths about Jay Zeamer, his crew and the mission.