USAAF
5th AF
3rd BG
89th BS
1943
Pilot 2nd Lt. William Langley
Gunner ?
Ditched April 22,1943
Aircraft History
Previously named ”Japanese Sandman”. Renamed "Strawberry Roan" after Lieutenant Bill Roan who had red colored
hair.
Mission History
Took off from Kila
Drome (3-Mile) on a training mission. Langley had hydraulic trouble and Langley could not put his landing gear down, then one engine cut out, and ditched cleanly into Bootless
Bay. Both Langley and his
gunner swam safely to shore and were returned to base.
Michael Claringbould adds:
"John Kelly in his diary records the loss date as 22 April 1942. This cannot be, as the first 89th BS A-20As did not arrive in the New Guinea theatre until September 1942. Kelly has clearly mistaken 1943 for 1942 in his diary. The US loss report writes off this aircraft on 23 April 1943, but in fact it was lost the day before, on 22 April 1943 (it is very common to see a one-day lag in US loss reports.) John Kelly's diary, which implies that 40-173 was on a test flight is correct. The ship was being tested after its engine problems of 21 April. John Kelly's diary, which implies that 40-173 was not returning from a mission, but perhaps from a training or test flight is correct the ship was being tested after its engine problems of 21 April."
Wreckage Today
Lies on a reef off Loloato
Island inside Bootless Bay, intact. It is a popular
dive spot.
References
Thanks to Michael Claringbould of Aerothentic for historical information.
A-20
25m
McFadyen
