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APO 719 Unit 1; command or Air
Force Thirteenth; Group 42nd Bomb.; Squadron 70th
Bom.
Given Day 16, month 8, year '45; time 120: and
location Bet. APO 920 & 926 of last know whereabouts
of missing aircraft.
Aircraft type/model/series:
R-2600-29
Number of persons aboard aircraft:
5
1) Pilot: Eatrin, Morton, H. Capt., serial #
0-1287161; missing (KNB)
2) Co-pilot: Tangring,
Gustaf L., 2 Lt.; serial # 0-788280; missing (KNB)
3)
Navigator: Resnick, Leo, 2 Lt.; serial # 0-706546;
missing (KNB)
4) Engineer: Dougherty, Chester
C., Sgt.; serial # 39410626; missing (KNB)
Radio
Oper.: Gipp, Daniel B., Sgt.; serial # 34842867; missing
(KNB)
Officer in charge of search: 1st
Lt. Richard H. Marron
Report date: 23 August
1945
Capt. Morton H. Estrin - Mrs.
Murial S. Estrin (Wife), 10 Aberfeldy drive, Trenton,
New Jersey
2nd Lt. Gustaf L. Tangring - Mr. Carl
H. Tangring (Father), 15 Kosta Street, Worcester,
Massachusetts
2nd Lt. Leo Resnick - Mrs. Rose M.
Resnick (Mother), 5117 D. Street, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
Sgt. Chester G. Dougherty, Jr. -
Mrs. Ida Dougherty (Mother), Route One Box 366, Oakdale,
California
Sgt. Daniel
B. Ginn - Mrs. Mary E. Ginn (Wife), Denmark, South
Carolina
Casualty Interrogation form the Adjutant general's
Office
The Familiesof many of you comrades have not
been as fortunate as yours. Their sons and husbands have
been reported missing in action and they are anxiously
waiting to learn their fate. You may be able to
supply the information which will help to terminate the
suspence and anxiety they are suffering.
If you
have information concerning the death in action or
during imprisonment of any member of the armed Forces,
you are requested to furnish the following information
about the deceased:
Name: Louis L. Gain, Tail Gunner,
B-17
Home town/state: Clemson, South
Carolina
Grade/Rank: Sgt.
Organizaiton: 351 Bomb
Gp-- 508 Bomb Sq-- 8th Ay
Date & Place of Death:
Sept 5/44, Ludwigshaven, Germany
Cause of Death:
Plane hit by flak. Wing tanks and #3 engine on fire.
Plane exploded in mid air. I was blown out of the plane
in the explosion. I asume that subject was in the plane
when it blew up.
Signed: George F. Anello, 2365 E.
1st. St., Brooklyn, New York
8 Feb, 1945 - Aircraft 691
collided with another aircraft. 10 people
aboard.
Dead - 8 Feb. 1945.
Mittelohmig/Steiermark.
2nd Lt. John D. Reid -
Mrs. Flossie L. Reid (Mother), 801 Park Street, High
Point, North Carolina
1st Lt. Howard C. Theoblad
- Mrs. Eva C. Theobald (Mother), 172 commonwealth
Avenue, Springfield, Massachusetts
2nd Lt. John
R. Ling - Mr. Dave W. Ling (Father), 344 West Lynwood
AVenue, Phoenix, Arizona
SSgt. James E. Rowell - Mrs. Lila V.
Rowell (Wife), 3 Wolfe Street, Charleston, South
Carolina
SSgt. Francis P. Nichols - Mr.
Frank H. Nichols (Father), 223 Sedgewick Street,
Syracuse, New York
Cpl. Kenneth E. Blacker - Mrs.
Doris E. blacker (Mother), PO Box 223, Neffs,
Ohio
Cpt. Phares P. Matthews - Mr. Parley P.
Matthews (Father), General Delivery, Grantsville,
Utah
Cpl. Dale R. Freeman - Mrs. Emma G. Freeman
(Mother), Rural Free Delivery Number Five, Bedford,
Indiana
Cpl. James E. Huntsberger - Mrs. Nona B.
Huntsberger (Mother), Sunburst, Montana
Cpl.
Hulon A. Brown - Mrs. Mary V. Brown (Mother), Box 435,
Orange, Texas
Transport list of American
Prisoners of War. All captured in Mitterlobwing, Feb.8,
1945
Rowell, James Edward;
Koszyczarek, Erwin
John;
Sing John; Brown, Hulos;
Smith, Frank W.
Jr.
Statement:
On 8 Feb. 1945
---I was flying toggalier on ship #673, piloted
by Lt. Clar. Our ship was flying left w. ig to
second element lead. Over target area, while make
a 360 degree turn, two ships in the second group in
front of ours, were seen to collide with each
other. One ship went into a flat spin and I saw a
large gouge in its wing. The other ship had its
tail completely torn off, and I saw it go down in a
steep glide. I saw one chute and then anotehr body
appeared just before one of the ships disappeared into
the clouds. Whether this chute opened or not, I do
not know
Edward J. Balog, S/Sgt, AC,
toggalier
---Aircraft #673 became separated
from group formation at the Key Point Onis, on the coast
of Yugoslvia, due to flying through heavy
overcast. Broke out of overcast at 18,000 feet and
only squadron ship visible was #071. We flew for
approximately one half hour with #071, then left to
attach group formation which had overtaken us.
Ship #071 went on to located 99th Group.
At I.P.,
we were flying in a nine ship box in group following the
99th Group. The 99th had started a 360 degree turn to
the left, at the I.P., evidently to return to Graz,
which was clear as we passed it. As they had
completed about 150 degrees of their turn, I heard the
pilot of my ship say "Mid-air collision". I saw
the two ships as they separated. One was fairly
intact, the only damage being a gourge out of the
leading edge of the wing. I could not tell whether
the engines had been torn off or not. This ship
was in a flat spin, and I did not see any chutes coming
from it as it fell. As it reached the undercast,
(7,000-8,000 feet) I saw an object leave the plane which
must have been one of the crew, since the ship had at no
time been falling apart. It then disappeared
through the clouds. The other ship had been hit at
about the waist door and had been cut in two at that
point. The tail assembly was shattered and pieces
of it were breaking off. There was no explosion
that I could see, but the collision had evidently
shattered the entire rear of the ship. I was
unable to follow the forward section for long; however
it appeared to be falling at first in a flat spin and
finally in a straight plunge before I lost sight of
it. I saw no chutes from either ship. My
last sight of either ship were pieces of the tail
assembly of the ship which had been hit as they
disappeared under us.
James F. Corcoran, F/O, AC,
Navigator.
---Aircraft became separated from
formation upon entering overcast, over northern
Yugoslvaia. On breaking out above formation of
overcast, #071 was nearby, and we rejoined it. The
group formation was not visible, although other
scattered elements were in the vicinity. #071 flew
around, apparently aimlessly, (We could not establish
radio contact) and we stayed on its left wing for about
one-half hour, at about 18,000 feet. A group
formation was sighted, but #071 made no apparent effort
to join it, flying behind and several thousand feet
below it. We left #071 in favor of two ships from
the 34th Squadron which were trying to reform with the
group. We joined them, flying left wing on #662,
and our three aircraft pulled up on the ships flying
number four position in the group; resulting in a nine
ship box. We continued in this position for the
remainder of the mission, flying left wing to #662,
which had rejoined its own squadron. When last
observed, #071 was following the group, at about our
altitude, off to the left. There were other
scattered aircraft also following the group, which #071
possibly joined. We could not dtermine to which
these aircraft belonged, and thus held our
position. Our box continued climbing with the
group, but still remained considerably lower.
Number two and three boxes appeared to be from the
Second Bomb Group, but we were too low to make certain
of this.
The group went into a 360 degree
turn to the left on the I.P. We were between
25,000 fett, the first three boxes being several
thousand feet higher. While on the turn, I
observed wreckage falling from high at eleven o'clock
position. A B-17 was falling reapidly, its
fuselage from the waist back gone. It was still
throwing wreckage. It was followed by another
B-17, in a flat spin, apparently intact except for a
large indentation on the leading edge of the wing,
outboard of number one engine. Last observed to
fall was the tail section of the first ship. I
called to the crew and asked if they saw any
parachutes. One parachute was reported and a man
was seen to clear the aircraft that was in the spin,
just before it went into the undercast, but his chute
was not seen to open. We completed the 360 turn,
and bombed on the briefed heading. After the
rally, our box split off from the group and returned
alone. Number six ship left formation over the
Adratic, and we pulled into its position. We kept
this position until the peel off.
John B. Clark, 2nd
Lt, AC, Pilot.
17 June 1944
Shot down by
enemy aircraft; 2 people aboard.
Pilot Kellum,
Milton T., 1st Lt. serial # 0-735599 - Mrs. Mary R.
Kellum, (Wife), 224 South Nichols, Muncie,
Indiana.
Gunner Hinkle, Harry
K., S/Sgt, serial # 14073980 - Mrs. Lilly K. Hinkle,
(Mother, Routh Number One, Orangeburg, South
Carolina
7 August 1944, AAF Station 485, 6 people
onboard.
Pilot, Captain Frederick E. Peters,
serial # 0-571072 - Mrs. Ruth V. Peters (Wife) 160-12
11th Avenue, New York, New York
CP 1st Lt. Ellis
H. Davison, serial # 0-670512 - Mrs. Audrey E. Davison
(Wife), 306 Texas Avenue, Texas City, Texas
B/N
2nd Lt. Clyde E. Loomis Jr., serial # 0-682437 - Mr.
Clyde E. Loomis (Father) 4004 North 29th Street, Omaha,
Nebraska
RG Sgt. George C. White, serial #
31312468 - Mrs Phyllis White (Wife), 566 Prospect
Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut
TG Sgt. William M.
Racer, 15071596 - Mrs. Della B. Racer (Mother), Rural
Route Number One, Saint Albans, West
Virginia
RG Sgt. Otha B.
Huckaby, serial # 34098401 - Mrs. Sarah M. Huckaby
(Mother), Rural Free Deliver, Lykesland, South
Carolina
11 June 1944, 827th Bomb Squadron, 10 people
onboard.
Pilot Silven, Edward A 2d Lt. 0-680319 -
Mrs. William J. Silven (Mother), 129 Maple Ave., Toocma
Park, Maryland
Co-Pilot Lindsay, James C., 2d Lt.
0-814602 - Mrs. Jean M. Lindsay (Mother), 1802 Pine St.,
Lumberton, North Carolina
Navigator Nigus,
Bernard (NMI), F/P, T-123993 - Mrs. Betty Nigus (Wife),
2500 S. camac St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Bombardier
Turk, Theodore A., 2d Lt, 0-698519, Mrs. Beatrice Turk
(Mother), 1775 E. 18th St., Brooklyn, New
York
Engr. Gunner Meacham, Charles T., S/Sgt,
34704030 - Mrs. Mary H. Meacham (Wife), Theodore,
Ala.
Radio Opr. Gunner Reese, David P., S/Sgt.
38473065 - Mrs. Nettie M. Reese (Mother) 1818 Wolthenius
St., Texarkana, Texas
Lower Gunner Burkhardt,
John J., S/Sgt, 32764843 - Mrs. Theresa Burkhardt
(Mother) Maplewood, New Jersey
Tail Gunner
Everson, Romaine K., Sgt. 19125124 - Matilda O. Grina
(Mother), 1105 6th West, Kalispell, Montana
Upper Gunner Richardson, William M., Sgt.
7087633 - Mr. Walter O. Richardson (Father), Gresham,
South Carolina
Nose Gunner
Richardson, Woodrow W., Sgt. 7087629 - Mrs. Walter
O. Richardson (Father), Gresham, South Carolina
29 Dec. 1944,Staff Sergeant
Thomas M. Bradford, Killed in Action - Mrs. Annie J.
Bradford (Mother) Box 174, Fort Mill, South
Carolina
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Crew of
Miss B-Haven, aircraft 42-95920
photo courtesy
of
b24bestweb.com | Aircraft
42-95620, piloted by 1st Lt. James J. Shafter,
0-771554
The following information was obtained
from T/Sgt. Walter E. Petrovich, 35601207 714th Bomb Sq.
448th Bomb Gp(H), this staton, relative to present
status of remaiing personnel of his crew who were
declared MIA per Initial Battle CAsualty Report of
Aircraft No. B-24-J 42-95620, submitted 5 April
1945.
The data was reported verbally by T/Sgt.
Petrovich. The personnel listed as KIA were not
officially identified by Sgt. Petrovich, however he was
told by officers who interrogated him that they had been
killed and was shown their clothing and personal
belongings. All survivors wre in German hands at one
time and the three reported as POW were moved to a POW
camp just prior to release of the remaining men.
Sgts. Beall and Kearney were in friendly hands in
Hanover, Germany when last seen by Sgt.
Petrovich.
KIA - Bombardier, 1st Lt. Calvin
J. Ellis Jr - (Mrs. Mary Ellis (Wife), Kings Street,
West Hanover, Massachusetts)
RMC - Navigator, 1st
Lt. Neal W. Pettit - (Mr. Wallace L. Pettit (Father),
215 Oklahoma Ave., Weslaco, Texas)
POW - Pilot,
1st Lt. James J. Shafter - (Mrs. Christine B. Shafter
(Mother), 703 Center Street, Cairo,
Illinois)
KIA - Co-pilot, 2nd
Lt. Harold Major Jr. - (Mr. Harold Major (Father),
Anderson, South Carolina)
KIA - Left
Waist, T/Sgt. Anderson C. Wright - (Mrs. Freida Keeman
(Mother), North Lane and Mector Street, Conshohocken,
Pennsylvania)
POW - Top turrent, Sgt. Daniel G.
Graham Jr. - (Mrs. Gladys I. Graham (Mother), 509 South
15th Street, Niles, Michigan)
RMC - Right Waist,
Sgt. Virgil F. Beall - (Mrs. Irma I. Beall (Mother) 4111
Raritan Street, Denver Colorado)
POW - Nose
turrent, Sgt. William L. Kaiser - (Mrs. Ella V. Kaiser
(Wife), 4314 Jacaranda Avenue, Burbank,
California)
POW - RCM Fligh Deck, Sgt. Harry A.
Kearney Jr. - (Mrs. May G. Kearney (Mother), 10 North
Ridgewood Road, South Orange, New Jersey)
KIA -
Tail turret, Sgt. Taylor L. Tarkington - (Mrs. Frances
E. Tarkington (Wife), Box Number 394, Temple,
Oklahoma)
6 October 1944 at 1215 hours, near
Brandanburg.
Dead, buried in the community
cemetery of K.Behnits on 8 Oct. 1944 - 1st Lt. Everett
L. Isaacson - Mr. Waino T. Isaacson (Father, Box 51,
Republic, Michigan
Dead, buried in the community
cemetery of K.Behnits on 8 Oct. 1944 - 2nd Lt. Filbert
F. Dye - Mrs. Eartha M. Dye (Mother), 14461 Rutherford
Avenue, Detroit, Michigan
2nd Lt. Warren G. Story
- Mrs. Marcella A. Story (Wife), 1405 South Third
Street, Norfolk, Nebraska
POW - F/G Donald K.
McQuade - Mrs. Anna McQuade (Mother), 124 East Marlin
Drive, Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania
POW - S/Sgt
Joseph M. Matuszak - Mrs. Anna Matuszak (Mother), 531
Madison Street, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania
Dead,
buried in the community cemetery of Buscho on 7 Oct.
1944 - S/Sgt Joseph M. Mandarano - Mrs. Carmela
Mandarano (Mother), 123 Second Street, New Rochelle, New
York
KIA - S/Sgt. William T. Ligon Jr. - Mrs.
Minnie R. Ligon (Mother), 409 South Polk Street, Dallas,
Texas
Dead, buried in the community cemetery of
Buscho on 7 Oct. 1944 - T/Sgt. Howard C. Ryan - Mr.
Charles R. Ryan (Father), 2866 North 25th Street,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
POW -
T/Sgt. Irvin W. Poole - Mr. Otto K. Poole (Father),
North, South Carolina
20 June 1944
Pilot, 2nd Lt. William N.
Forsythe - Mrs. Mildred P. Forsythe (Wife), 220o
Westwood Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee
Co-pilot,
2nd Lt. William E. Olive - Mrs. RAchel F. Olive (Wife),
410 Chandler, Marianna, Arkansas
Navigator, 2nd
Lt. Norton M.Bean - Mr. benjamin B. Bean (Father),
Williamstown, Massachusetts
Bombardiar, 2nd Lt.
Casimir C. Cechowski - Mrs. Eleanor B. Cechowski (Wife),
1323 West 78th Stree,t Chicago, Illinois
Engineer, S/Sgt Francis E. Young - Mrs.
Mildred L. Young (Mother), Rural Free Deliver #1,
Alcolu, South Carolina
Radio Operator,
S/Sgt. Roy C. Weber - Mrs. Ella G. Wever (Mother), 2852
South 13th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Waist
Gunner, Sgt. Gerald R. Plank - Mrs. Emma L. Plank
(Mother), Industry, Illinois
Waist Gunner, Sgt.
James C. Barton - Mrs. Teacie Barton (Mother), Number 6
North Franklin Road, Greenville, North
Carolina
Tail Gunner, Sgt. Gilbert S. Brockway -
Mr. Howard W. Brockway (Father), 2345 27 Street, Troy,
New York
1 December 1943
Squadron 547th. Destination
Solingen, Germany
No crew members
killed.
Pilot, Major Maurice S. Dillingham - Mrs.
Hazel L. Dillingham (Wife), 9214 Collins Avenue,
Miami Beach, Florida. Mrs. Ben Burrough (Sister), 24
Cleveland Road, Caldwell, New Jersey.
Co-pilot,
1st Lt. Edmund S. Goulder - Mr. Adolph P. Goulder
(Father), 1052 East 174th Street, Cleveland,
Ohio
Navigator, 1st Lt. Arthur C. Harris - Mr.
Claude C. Harris (Father), 5332 Xerxes Avenue, South,
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Bombardier, 1st Lt.
William Boomhower - Mr. Clarence Boomhower (Father), Box
224, Greenville, Green County, New York
Tail
Gunner, 2nd Lt. Ernest M. Boyce Jr. - Mrs. Virginia M.
Boyce (Wife), 1903 University Avenue, Madison,
Wisconsin
Radio Operator, Technical Sergeant
William F. Sears - Mr. Vearl V. Sears (Father), 5823
Cedar Street, Omaha, Nebraska
Top Turret, Eng., Technical
Sergeant Edward A. Thomasson - Mrs. Madena S.
Thomasson (Mother), 895 Fair Street, Newberry South
Carolina
Staff Sergeant Claude R. Leslie -
Mr. Claude W. Leslie (Father), 1284 Detzen Avenue,
Dayton, Ohio
Right Gunner, Staff Sergeant Michael
J. Vodilko - Mrs. Anna S. Vodilko (Mother), 138 South
Hazelwood Avenue, Youngstown, Ohio
Left Gunner,
Staff Sergeant Paul R. Saunders - Mrs. Laura Saunders
(Mother), 711 West 18th Street, Kansas City,
Missouri
The following is a list of crew flying with 1st Lt.
Chester M. Angell on 16 March 1944. 1st Lt.
Chester M. Angell was a first pilot in the 37th
Bombardment Squadron (M), 17th Bombardment Group (M),
AAF. The plane collided with another aircraft as both
planes were attempting to get into position in Squadron
formation previous to flying on course for a bombing
mission. Accident occured 7 miles west of
Villacidro Airdrome, Sardida, on 16 March 1944.
All members of the crew were KIA.
2nd Lt. Robert
E. Newville - Mrs. Billie E. Newville (Wife), 3214 West
College St., Shreveport, Louisiana
1st Lt.
Bradford R. Roberts - Mrs. Stella M. Roberts (Wife), 213
East Ratacliff St., Shreveport, Louisiana
S/Sgt
Virgle E. Miller - Mrs. Catherine E. Miller (Wife), 359
Cleveland Ave., Columbus, Ohio
Sgt Jack Thorne -
Mrs. Maude E. Thorne (Mother), 724 Oallahan, Muskogee,
Oklahoma
S/Sgt Clarence R.
Wise - Mrs. Eugenia S. Wise (Mother), 2003 Johnstone
St., Newberry, South Carolina
S/Sgt. John
E. O'Stalfi - Mrs. Anna O'Stalfi (Mother), 152 Walnut
St., Mont Clare, Pennsylvania
1st Lt. Chester M.
Angell - Mrs. Elaline E. Angell (Wfie), 3915 South St.
Andrews Pl., Los Angles, California
January 2, 1945
1st Lt. Billy B. Blackman -
Mr. Walter K. Blackman (Father), Kimball,
Nebraska
KIA - 2nd Lt. Robert E. Lee Freshour -
Mrs Robert E. L. Freshour (Wife), 911 WEst Millwood
Street, Houston, Texas.
2nd Lt. William M.
Sterrett - Mrs. Louise G. Sterrett (Mother), Rockbridge
Baths, Virginia. Captured, transfer to Oberursel on 2
Jan 45.
S/Sgt. Andrew M.
Herbert Jr. - Mr. Andrew M. Herbert Sr., 1934 South Main
Street, Anderson, South Carolina. Captured between
Langeloh and Sprengel (Soltau County, Hann) on 31
December 1944, at 1200 h. Transferred to Oberursel
on 2 January 1945.
S/Sgt. Robert E.
Fortney - Mrs. Ruth Fortney (Mother), 359 East 6th
Street, Rushville, Indiana. Cemetery Wintermoor on 4
February 1945.
S/Sgt Joseph T. Pearl - Mrs. Anne
F. Pearl (Mother), 712 West Cass Street, Greenville,
Michigan
S/Sgt. Stanley P. Carson - Mrs. Dolly E.
Carson (Mother), Rural Free Delivery Number 1, Woodburn,
Iowa. Cemetery Wesseloh.
S/Sgt. Thomas C. Pace -
Mrs. Nellie Pace (Mother), 443 WEst Capitol Street, Salt
Lake City, Utah. Captured, wounded at Insel, 31 December
1944.
S/Sgt Basil Numack - Mr. Walter Numack
(Father), 148 South Main Street, Silver Springs, New
York. Cemetery Wesseloh
2nd Lt. Freshour, Robert
E., serial # 0-2059161 - Mrs. Robert E.E. Freshour
(Wife), 911 Est Millwood Street, Houston, Texas;
cemetery Wesseloh
1 unknown dead:
Wasseloh
Pilot, Major Joseph H.
Richardson - Mrs. Arden T. Richardson (Wife), 120
Prevost Street, Anderson, South Carolina. KIA, 25 Feb.
1944. Returning from Venlo, on course. Eyewitness report
by Wilson J. Cushing, 2nd Lt.: Flames were seen to come
from the right wing.
LW, S/Sgt Thomas J. Burnette -
Mrs. Margaret Burnette (Wife), 29 G. Street, Anderson,
South Carolina. Plane went down, Lecce, Italy, 18 August
1944.
MACR / Accident report
# 3020 Aircraft Model B-25
G1 _S/N # 42-64881Organization: Location Durand
Field New Guinea; Command or AAF/AF Fifth AAF; Group -
38th Bomber (Medium); Squadron *23rd Bomber; Place
of Departure Townsville Australia; Target or Intended
destination; Durand Field New Guinea; Type of Mission-
Administrative Flight: Date: January 28,
1944; Time; Unknown; Location of Crash; Between
Townsville Australia and Durand Fiels N. G; Reason
Aircraft was Lost; Cause of loss Unknown; Number
of persons aboard aircraft; Crew - 5 Passengers-
6 Total 11.
List of
Crew:
Pilot
1LT Donald T. Renshaw,
O-796885
Co-Pilot
2LT Jesus P. Badia,
O-678139
Nav
1LT Calhoun P. Narten, O-795435
Crew
Chief T/S Norman L. Nelson
Radio
Op S/S Charles D.
Plageman
Passenger Capt Coleman,
James F. - and five others
Narrative statements;
B25G-1, number 42-64881 was received from the 4th Air
Depot Group, Townsville for transfer to 38th Bomb Group.
Took off from Garbutt Field, Townsville for Durand
Field, Port Moresby at 11:30 January 28, 1944. Plane
never reached destination. A radio check of all fields
in Australia and New Guinea within range failed to
reveal 881's whereabouts. Radio message requesting crew
and passenger list was sent to Base Operations, Garbutt
Field, was received and answered, but message was
garbled. Another radio message was sent requesting
written crew and passenger list to be sent Safe Hand
Courier answer not yet received. Rescue Service, Advance
Echelon Fifth Air Force, APO 929 was immediately
notified. Extent of Rescue Service search unknown.
Aircraft of 38th Bomb Group made intensive search of sea
and coast with 100 miles range of Port Moresby. Aircraft
of 38th Bomb Group enroute to Townsville for
modification reported sighting possible wreckage 97
miles south of Port Moresby. Other aircraft of 38th Bomb
Group made intensive search of this area. While
searching this area, plane 42-64810 is also missing.
Search for both planes continuing. Added Note: All crew
and passangers were killed.
Second Lieutenant Jesus Badia, Clemson
Class of 1943, was the aircraft co-pilot.
MACR/Accident Report
#: 12433 Aircraft Model: A25F S/N#:
41-39256
Organization:
Location Couvran, France; Command or AAF/AF
9th Air Force; Group 409th Bomb Gp. (L);
Squadron 642nd Bomb Sq. (L)
Place of Departure - Station A-70; Target
or Intended Destination See atchd map
Type of Mission Combat
Date: 16 February 1945 Time: 1229 Location
of Crash Northwest of Unna, Germany Reason Aircraft
was Lost: Enemy Anti-Aircraft
Number of Persons Aboard Aircraft: Crew
3 Passengers 0 Total 3
List of Crew:
Pilot William Wahl, 2nd
Lt. 0-686292 MIA
Mech.
Gunner William N. Price Sgt,. 33497646
MIA
Arm Gunner Henry G.
Muldrow, Sgt. 34027535 MIA (Bishopville, Lee
County, South Carolina)
Eye Witness Statement:
APO 140, U.S. Army, 22 February 1945.
On the 16th of February 1945 I
saw the Turret Gunner in a plane that flew in the second
flight of the second box. From the position that I was
in, I saw Lt. Wahls ship get a Flak hit one minute
after Bombs Away. He peeled off to the left with parts
of his cowling flying off and his left engine smoking.
He had the ship under control but both engines were
smoking when I last saw him going under a cloud layer
about three minutes after being hit. To the best of my
knowledge no parachutes opened.
Earl B. Smith, S/Sgt., 11040805, 642nd Bomb Sq. (L) 409th Bomb Gp. (L)
MACR/Accident
Report #: 9809 Aircraft Model: B-24J; Nickname: Sweet
Charioat S/N#: 42-50829: Organization: Location
Harwick England; Command or AAF/AF 8th
A.F.; Group 93rd; Squadron 330th
Place of Departure
Hardwick; Target or Intended Target Eindhoven Germany;
Type of Mission Supply; Date: Day 18 Month 9 Year 44
Time: 1738 Location of Crash: 5157N 0233E; Reason
Aircraft was Lost: Enemy small arms fire
Number of Persons Aboard
Aircraft: Crew 11 Passengers 0 Total 11
List of Crew:
Pilot
Geer, John H. Capt. 0-690206 MIA
Command Pilot Segars, Henry K.,
Major 0-352171 MIA (Hartsville, Darlington County,
South Carolina)
Navigator Marshel, James H.,
Jr. 1st Lt. 0-702469 MIA
Bomb.
Blackenship, George S. 1st Lt. 0-696197
MIA
Pilot, Nav. Karian, George G. 2nd. Lt.
0-716459 MIA
Top G Janiszewski, Ervin R. S/Sgt.
16092729 MIA
Tail G Tomkins, Raymond M. S/Sgt.
32383208 MIA
Radio Reed, Heil R. T/Sgt. 15324246
MIA
RWG Lamoureux, Robert R. T/Sgt 31246532
Duty
LWG Seiegaj, Joseph A. S/Sgt. 31324530
Duty
Drop Master Runetzky, Albert T/5 37413156
MIA
Narrative:
Subject: Statement made by
1st Lt. Carlos (NMI) Vasquez, 0-765155
To:
Statistical Officer, 93rd Bomb Gp. (H)
AAF.
1. On mission of September
18, 1944, as we approached I.P. at 1609 the no. 2 engine
of Capt. Geers plane 829/I was apparently hit by small
arms fire from the ground, it caught fire and was
immediately feathered. At this time the #3 engine was
observed to be smoking. Capt. Geer maintained lead and
continued to target at airspeed of 175 indicated. After
dropping supplies, a right turn was made and a climb
made to approximately 3000 feet, at speed of 165. At
this point I left Capt. Geer and continued to a height
of 6000 feet, keeping his plane in sight. Visual contact
was maintained with Capt. Geer until approximately 5
miles west over Flakes Island, at which time he was lost
because of intervening haze. Two 360 degree turns and a
decent to two thousand feet were made by me in an effort
to relocate Capt. Geer. When last seen three engines
were still operating, #3 was smoking. I heard him make a
call to Air Sea Rescue giving altitude as 1800 feet, and
doing okay. I do not know what happened to Capt. Geer
after this time.
Carlos (NMI) Vasquez, 1st
Lt. Air Corps, Airplane Commander.
MACR/Accident
report # 768 Aircraft Model: C-47A S/N#:
42-235706
Organization: Location Enfidaville,
Tunisia; Command NAAF Group- 316th T.C.
Group; Squadron 45th T.C.
Squadron.
Place of Departure: Enfidaville, Field No.
1 ; Target or Intended Target DZ near Gala, Sicily;
Type of Mission Night paratroop drop.
Date: 11
July, 1943 Time: App. 2107 GMT; Location of Crash: App.
3 mi. NW of Gala Reason Aircraft was Lost: Accidentally
fired on by friendly ground and naval A/A guns; Number
of Persons Aboard Aircraft: Crew 5 Passengers 18
Total 23
List of Crew:
Pilot
Dekker, Williams N. Major 0-395478
Co-Pilot Dobbins,
Charles M. Captain 0-789693
Navigator Armstrong, Don
(NMI) 1st. Lieut. 0-426329
Crew Chief
Morgan, Edwin T. T/Sgt. 39021529
Radio Operator Mayo,
Williams K. M/Sgt. 14077852
Passenger Kerrans,
Charles M. Brig. Gen. 0-12504
Passenger Jackson, Tracy
H., Captain 0-315620 (Greenwood, South
Carolina)
Also 16 paratroopers who are
definitely known to have jumped at predetermined drop
zone prior to planes difficulties.
Eye Witness
Account by Captain Edwin L. Minor on Circumstances
Pertaining to Disappearance of Missing Aircraft 42-23506
-
I last saw 506 piloted by
Major Dekker and Captain Dobbins heading along the coast
northeast from Gala, just off shore. At this time
(approximately 2113 GMT) the plane flew through a
barrage of anti-aircraft fire, both from the ground and
from the naval vessels, at which time I lost sight of it
and proceeded home. The guns are believed to be friendly
because they were located at points known to be in our
possession, and also because in some cases they ceased
firing when the recognition signal was flashed. The
attached drawing of the Gala area indicates the
approximate location of the plane where I last saw
it.
MACR/Accident
Report #: 1631 Aircraft Model: B-25D S/N#:
41-30451
Organization: Location A.P.O. 430; Command
or AAF/AF 14th U.S. Air Force
Group
341st Bomb Gp (M); Squadron 11th
Bomb Squad (M)
Place of Departure Suichwan, China;
Target or Intended Destination River Sweep, Yangtze
River; Type of Mission Combat
Date: 12/30/43 Time:
08:50 Location of Crash: 30 10 N 116 50 E
Reason
Aircraft was Lost: Believed to hit mast with right wing
ripping approximately six feet off outer end.
Number
of Persons Aboard Aircraft: Crew 4 Passengers 0
Total 4
List of Crew:
Pilot
Arnold, William C. 2nd Lt. 02051767
KIA
Co-Pilot Keating, Harland B. 1st Lt.
0662567 KIA
Bomb-Navi White, William H.
C., 1st Lt.
0730761 KIA (Columbia, Richland County, South
Carolina)
Eng-Gunner Smith, Lynnwood W. Sgt.
13049624 KIA
Narratives:
Plane #57
was approaching river boat on a low-level bomb dropping
run. Direction was toward the north bank of the Yangtze
River at the location of 30 10 N 116 50
E.
After dropping bomb the aircraft proceeded to
pull up over the boat at which time the last six feet
(approximately) of the right wing came off. The ship
yawed and nosed up, then down, and appeared to be almost
controllable when it hit the high mud bank of the river.
The released bomb skipped and landed close by,
exploding. The ship also exploded and burned. We
then circled and took photos...Robert A. Nice,
1st Lt., Air Corps, Pilot, Ship No. 56.
Plane #57 piloted by Lt.
Arnold and his squadron crashed and exploded on the
north bank of the Yangtze River approximately 10 miles
up the river west of Anking. The plane made a pass on a
ship at this spot dropping only one bomb that I saw. It
hit the deck and tumbled after the plane but was clear
of it. The outboard section of the right wing came off
just after the pass over the ship. The plane veered to
the right and down, striking the bank on the north side.
A gasoline explosion was seen on impact. The fire burned
and flared up intermittently until we a few minutes
later. Very little wreckage remained above the water.
The fuselage was not visible. Five or six 250 pound
bombs were in the plane at the time of the crash. I saw
no survives which is entirely reasonable since the plane
hit the water at about 200 miles per hour taking the
greater speed of the run into consideration.
Thomas H. Anderson,
0738062, 2nd Lt., A.C., 11th Bomb
Sq. (M), Pilot.
Subject: Missing Air Crew
Report.
To: Commanding General, Rear Rohelon
U.S.A.F., C.B.I., A.P.O. 885.
1. Additional
information is submitted concerning B-25 D airplane No.
41-30456 which was subject of report sent to your
Headquarters, 6 January 1944.
2. Report has been
received from Chinese authorities to the effect that
three of the crew were taken prisoner by the Japanese.
The source of the report cannot be considered as
absolutely reliable but damage done to enemy shipping on
this mission in Chinese report agrees closely with
combat intelligence report. The opinions of other crews
in mission is that if anyone was alive after the crash
it is miraculous.
For the commanding
general:
Fred C. Milner, Colonel, A.G.D., Adjutant
General. |