Floyd Fitzler Fleming Jr

Technical Sergeant Floyd Fitzler Fleming Jr. was killed in a bomber crash on September 21, 1944 off the coast of New Guinea during World War II.  He was 25 years old.

Floyd Fitzler Fleming Jr. was born on September 5, 1919 in Warren County, North Carolina, the son of Floyd F. Fleming Sr. and Beulah Wilson Fleming.  He graduated from Middleburg High School, Vance County, North Carolina and Maxton Junior College and attended the University of North Carolina before enlisting in the U. S. Army on August 14, 1942 at Fort Bragg. 

TSGT Fleming trained at Kesler Field, Mississippi; Shephard Field, Texas; and Langley Field, Virginia before being deployed to the Pacific Theatre of War in February, 1944. Fleming served as a Technical Sergeant & Engineer / Gunner on SB-24J #42-100277, 868th Bomber Squadron, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

The 868th BS was a pioneering radar-equipped Pathfinder unit, flying specially modified "SB-24s" (sometimes called LABs—Low Altitude Bombers) responsible for nocturnal searches for Japanese shipping, particularly targeting the "Tokyo Express" in the Solomon Islands and later conducting long-range, two-plane attacks from Los Negros to the Palaus, Java, and the Philippines. In early 1944, they moved to Munda Field, then to Los Negros. By March 1944, they shifted from shipping attacks to acting as pathfinders for high-altitude bombers. They were involved in the destruction of Truk in April 1944 and conducted long-range missions from Morotai and Palawan to Java.

On September 21, 1944, SB-24J #42-100277 took off from Kornasoren Airport (APO #704), Noemfoor, Indonesia on a combat strike over Manado, Indonesia. Shortly after takeoff they experienced engine failure and crashed into the sea. The entire crew of 11, including TSgt Fleming, was lost in this crash which was due to bad weather (thunderstorms). 

Technical Sergeant Floyd Fitzler Fleming, Jr. is listed on the Wall of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, in Manila, Philippines.  

Last edited: 26 March 2026