World War II B-26 Marauder Stories

Nick Cressy and Josh Muri join us to share two amazing WWII B-26 Marauder stories from WWII.

On June 4, 1942, during the pivotal Battle of Midway, Josh’s grandfather Lt. James P. Muri piloted  “Susie-Q,” into history with an audacious attack on the Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi. Muri and his crew were part of a daring mission to halt the Japanese fleet’s advance toward Midway Atoll. Their objective: deliver a torpedo strike against the heart of the enemy force.

Muri’s bomber, one of four launched from Midway Island, faced relentless fire from Japanese fighter planes and naval guns. Hit multiple times, the aircraft sustained significant damage, and three crew members were wounded. Undeterred, Muri pressed on, releasing a torpedo aimed at the Akagi. To evade the intense enemy fire, Muri took the extraordinary step of flying his damaged bomber directly down the Akagi’s flight deck, barely skimming the surface of the ship. This low-level maneuver minimized the exposure of his plane to anti-aircraft fire and swarming Zero fighters.

The Susie-Q returned to Midway Island, riddled with over 500 bullet holes, yet miraculously intact. Muri’s actions not only saved his crew but also disrupted Japanese Admiral Nagumo’s battle strategy. This moment proved critical in setting the stage for the American victory at Midway, a turning point in the Pacific Theater of World War II.

Muri and his crew received the Distinguished Service Cross for their bravery. His feat was immortalized in Lonnie Bell’s song “Midway” and honored decades later with the Jimmy Doolittle Award. After his military service, Muri lived a quiet life in Montana, passing away in 2013 at age 93.

Nick Cressy’s uncle, Staff Sergent Nick Bentas, was an engineer/top turret gunner served first in the Mediterranean flying from Sardinia then Corsica and then Dijon France on missions to Italy, France and Germany. They supported the invasion of Southern France and transferred to support the 7th Army. On a mission on 19 January 1945, his plane lost the right engine and crashed outside Fontain France, killing the crew. Nick captures the story in his book, Back from 44: The Sacrifice and Courage of a Few – A Story of Heroism in the Skies Over Western Europe.

The B-26 Marauder, the aircraft flown by Muri, became renowned for its versatility and durability. Known for its low loss rates, the B-26 flew more than 110,000 sorties during the war, dropping 150,000 tons of bombs. Despite its early deployment challenges, the Marauder earned a distinguished record in Allied operations.

We’re grateful to UPMC for Life for sponsoring this event!