USAAF
5th AF
312th BG
389th BS

Wartime Photo

1984

Pilot  2nd Lt. Henry J. "Bill" Miars, O-750426 (MIA / KIA) Hubbard, TX
Gunner  S/Sgt Harley A. Spear (MIA) Maryland
Crashed  March 13, 1944 at 12:45
MACR  5890

Pilot History
Miars was born in New Hope, Texas about five miles from Hubbard. After graduating High School and working, he volunteered for the USAAC in 1940 as a clerk, and then later an aviation cadet, then graduated as a 2nd Lt. in August 1943 and sent to New Guinea.

Mission History
Took off from Gusap Airfield as part of a formation of A-20's on a low level mission against Alexishafen.

Afterward, the A-20s were low on fuel and following Ken Hedges in bad weather, looking for the only passage in the mountains to get back to their base at Gusap Airfield. Miars last radioed HQ reporting that the group was turning back because of bad weather.

In the afternoon, this aircraft and two other A-20s slammed into the mountain side in the Finisterre Range. Col. Strauss (312th C. O.) always felt responsible for them and reefer to the loss of those six boys "a damned waste" in 1985. Also lost were A-20G 42-54082 and A-20G 42-54117.

Wreckage
Wreckage was discovered in August 1983 by villagers at 13,000' and reported.

A three man team from US Army CILHI visited the crash site on August 31, 1983. They recovered the remains of Lt. Miars, his watch stopped at 12:45, an inscribed bracelet and his silver pilot's wings. His remains were returned to the family in 1984, and he was buried near his parents in Hubbard, Texas.

The crash site was again visited by CILHI again in 1990. SSgt Spears body was never recovered, and it is speculated that he either bailed out or survived the crash and wandered off into the mountains.

Relatives
Anna Underwood (niece of Miars) adds:
"His sister, Kathryn Hight was excited to learn about this webpage. I can confirm that his remains were returned to the family in 1984. The Miars family held a memorial service with 21 gun salute at the Fairview Cemetery in Hubbard, Texas, Au 4, 1984.

Unfortunately, we do not know the other two gentlemen. Bill's sister, Kathryn, said that one of them was Spears. She has a letter that was written to their mother from Mrs. Spears. The two women spoke of having the same picture. In the letter Mrs. Spears wrote that her son Harvey said that was the best crew in the Air Force. Kathryn thinks Spears was from Maryland."

References
Dallas Times Herald "Homecoming: Family Buries Long Lost WWII Flyer" August 5, 1984

Contribute Information

A-20

MIA
(Partially Resolved)

Homecoming

5.58
146.30