Shelton, Joe H. Jr. - Capt.

SAYS ABILENE MARINE PILOT---

Japs Had Range, Not Number

(By Staff Sergeant Alfred E. Lewis of 145 Hillside Ave., Waterbury, Conn., a Marine Corps Combat Correspondent.)

MUNDA--(Delayed)--Looking over his plane and the eight holes in it s tail after he had returned from bombing a Japanese airfield, Marine Captain Joe H. Shelton, Jr., of 933 Vine St., Abilene, Texas, had a chance to think how lucky he was.

Recalling his narrow escape the captain said, "They had my range, but they didn't have my number. Any one of those holes could have been in some vital part of the plane. Our dive bomber squadron went out that day to knock out the Japanese Kahili airfield on the southern tip of Bougainville.

"The Japs spotted us a mile and sent up a barrage. I waited until I was right over my target and then peeled off into my dive.

"Bursts of ack-ack were exploding all around me and it looked as if the Japs were getting the range. I returned the fire and started their positions on the way down. The closer to earth I came, the better target I was. I released my bombs on a set of four heavy guns and pulled out. Sergeant Fred Arab of Waterbury, Conn., the rear gunner, opened up and strafed their positions again.

"Suddenly the plane jerked violently. I knew we had been hit. The plane handled well and I had full control. I didn't think it was too serious, but I headed for home. On return to the base, I found they had made eight hits, most of them in the tail sections of the plane."

Captain Shelton is graduate of Abilene high school, and attended the University of Texas. He is a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He enlisted on Jan. 2, 1942, and received his wings on Aug. 19, 1942.

Captain Shelton's parents are Mr. and Mrs. Joe H. Shelton Sr., 933 Vine St., Abilene. Young Shelton volunteered in the Naval Air Force reserve July 28, 1941 and was called to duty Oct. 1, 1941. He trained at Grand Prairie, Corpus Christi and Pensacola and received his commission, Aug. 28, 1942.

He has been on duty in the Pacific a year and was promoted to rank of captain late in December, 1943. Before enlisting he was auditor and city salesman of Banner Creamery in Odessa.

Abilene Reporter News, Abilene, TX 17 Feb 1944