B-17F-10-BO "San Antonio Rose" Serial Number 41-24458

B-17F-10-BO "San Antonio Rose" Serial Number 41-24458

USAAF
5th AF
43rd BG
64th BS

Former Assignments
19th BG

January 5, 1943

MIA General Walker
DVD Video

Pilot  Major Allan Lindbergh (New York, NY) (MIA / KIA)
Co-Pilot  Captain Benton H. Daniel (Hollis, OK) (MIA / POW)
Bombardier  2nd Lt. Robert Hand (Hampstead, TX) (MIA /KIA)
Navigator  1st Lt. John W. Hanson (Missoula, MT) (MIA / KIA)
Engineer T/Sgt. Dennis T. Craig (NY, NY) (MIA / KIA)
Radio S/Sgt. Quentin Blakely (Washington, DC) (MIA / KIA)
Gunner Sgt. Leslie A. Stewart (East Chicago, IL) (MIA / KIA)
Gunner Pvt. Leland W. Stone (Oakland, CA) (MIA / KIA)
Gunner PFC William G. Fraser (San Antonio, TX) (MIA / KIA)
Observer  Maj. Jack W. Bleasdale (San Fernando, CA) (MIA / POW)
Observer  Brig. General Kenneth N. Walker (Cerillos, NM) (MIA / KIA)
MIA January 5, 1943
MACR 15359

Crew History
Maj. Lindbergh who was the CO of the 64th BS, 43rd BG
Brig. General Kenneth N. Walker was C.O. of 5th Bomber Command

Aircraft History
Boeing manufacture number 3132. Delivered to the U.S. Army on July 8, 1942. Assigned to the 19th BG, then was reassignment to the 43rd BG, 64th BS.

Mission History
Took off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby leading a formation of six B-17s and six B-24s bomb the harbor, shipping and the airfield at Rabaul. Last seen over te target area, pursued by Japanese fighters and the left outboard engine smoking, this B-17 was never seen again. Also lost was B-17F 41-24538.

According to the aircraft's missing air crew report (MACR 15359):
"Departed on mission 4L to attack Rabaul, at 0848 from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby to attack ships in Simpson Harbor. Last seen going into clouds, closely pursued by four to five Japanese fighters. The left outboard engine was observed to be smoking."

A memorandum to the MACR AG 704 (April 29, 1949) states:
"The plane in which these men became missing in action was a B-17 #458, observed turning left making a possible run on shipping in the Keravia Bay on 5 January 1943, in the Rabaul area. It was last seen heading south, just east of Vunakanau, at about 5,000' with left outboard motor smoking and out. The plane, closely pursued by several enemy fighters, went into the clouds and did not rejoin the flight."

Fates of the Crew
There is evidence that two of the crew were taken prisoners (Bleasdale and Daniel) mentioned in documents supposedly signed by Bleasdale seen by surviving POWs during their interrogations and Daniel's name was noted by a catholic priest. But, neither crew member survive the war if they were prisoners. All the crew are listed as MIA. Afterwards, Walker was posthumously earned the Medal of Honor. General Walker is the highest ranking MIA American MIA of World War II.

Wreckage
To date, the wreckage of this aircraft has not been found. American JPAC / CILHI has never actively searched for this aircraft.

Relatives
Kenneth Walker, Jr. (son)
Douglas Walker (son)

References
Pride of Seattle page 9
Kenneth N. Walker: Airpower's Untempered Crusader,
MIA General Kenneth N. Walker (DVD)
Thanks to Doug Walker for assistance with this profile.
Additional thanks to Brian Bennett, Richard Dunn and Larry Hickey.

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