USAAF
5th AF
43rd BG
65th BS
Previous Assignments:
19th BG
28th BS
March 26, 1943
Brian Bennett, 1985
Pilot 1st Lt. John Woodard, O-725563 (KIA) Ontario, CA
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Jack K. Wisener, O-662327 (POW, survived)
Navigator 1st Lt. Philip L. Bek, O-724280 (POW, executed)
Bombardier 2nd Lt. Russell S. Emerick, O-793089 (KIA)
Engineer T/Sgt. Leonard J. Skarr, 17017955 (KIA)
Gunner S/Sgt. Stewart D. Nisbet, 31053245 (KIA)
Gunner S/Sgt. Maurice F. Sayer, 17038428 (KIA)
Gunner Sgt. Chris B. Cousino, 15012471 (KIA)
Gunner Sgt. Boyd H. Parker, 19004786 (KIA)
Gunner Cpl. Julius Hamershlag, 32160683 (KIA)
Shot
Down June 13, 1943
MACR 16189
Aircraft History
Delivered to the US Army on July 10, 1942. Assigned to the 19th BG, 28th BS. Later, it was transfered to the 43rd BG, 65th BS.
Mission History
One of seven B-17s on an mission to strike Vunakanau Aerodrome "Georgia Peach" was hit by anti-aircraft fire at 0345 while flying at 6,000' but continued under control for about five minutes after bomber were released, and then went down. While a Japanese nightfighter had been seen in the area, the loss was attributed to heavy anti-aircraft fire.
Infact, it had fallen victim to J1N1 Irving flown by Shigetoshi Kudo after it had been caught in the beams of search lights at 0314 who set it on fire and caused it to crash northeast of Ubili Airfield, Ulamona. Two crew were known to have bailed out.
Two other bombers were damaged on the night of June 13. One 65th Sqdn B-17 and B-17F "The Old Man" 41-24403 was badly damaged by anti-aircraft and nightfighter.
Jose Holguin noted in his diary on June 13, 1943:
"As we made our getaway we saw Major Luntly (sp?) being hit by night fighters, but he managed to shake them off. We circled wide around the target area and then headed for home at 03:26. As we got on course, we saw something burning in mid air and then crash to the ground about 20 miles south of the target. A great explosion followed. We knew it was one of our bombers and radioed in to Port Moresby. On the way home we could easily see the stars and arrived home without loosing any time. 07:00 we were briefed and when Lt. Woodard did not arrive we concluded it was he who crashed." [Holguin's bomber, B-17E "Naughty But Nice" 41-2430 was later shot down by the same J1N1 Irving piloted by Kudo on June 26, 1943]
Fates of the Crew
Two crew members were known to have bailed out and survived, Lt. Phillip Bek and Lt Jack Wisener. Both were captured and taken to the Japanese Navy POW camp. Wisener was sent to Japan and survived the war while Bek was executed on November 25, 1943 with several other 43rd BG POWs. Japanese records (falsely) stated that Bek was sent to Japan on the Kokai Maru on February 20, 1944.
Wreckage
The crash site was investigated by the Japanese during the war. In 1947 a US Army AGRS team visited the crash site. Remains of Woodard, Emerick, Nisbet, Sayer, Cousino, Parker, Hamershlag were recovered and are interred together at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery (Section 78 Site 991-992). The body of T/Sgt Skarr may be buried at another cemetery.
Edward Rogers adds:
"Lt. Bek's name is not listed on the 'Tablets of the Missing' at the ABMC website. While this suggests that his remains were recovered all of the other men who were executed with him are still listed as missing."
References
Moonlight Interceptor page 38
Pride of Seattle page 9
File 6950646 [Unidentified] Missing U.S Aircraft [Part 1] p.22 National Archives, Australia Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional information
B-17
POW
Lt. Beck
