USAAF
5th AF
43rd BG
65th BS
1942
Richard Leahy 1980s
Phil Bradley 1996
Justin Taylan 2003
Scott Nicholls 2004
Phil Bradley 2005
Phil Bradley 2008
Pilot 1st
Lt. Ray S. Dau, O-424250 (Arlington, VA)
Co-Pilot 2nd
Lt. Donald W. Hoggan, O-661930 (Puente, CA)
Bombardier 2nd Lt Albert V. 'Bud' Cole, O-724135
Navigator 2nd Lt. Peter
Hudec, O-728213 (New York, NY)
Radio Sgt
Robert Albright (WIA / KIA Jan 14, 1943)
Engineer SSgt Lloyd
T. Dumond, 17014140 (Dewitt, AR)
Gunner Sgt Francis
E. Caldwell, 36172510 (Goss Pointe, MI)
Gunner Sgt Henry
J. Blasco, 31043494 (New Britain, CT)
Tail Gunner Sgt. Henry
Bowen, 19094672 (WIA/KIA)
Force Landed January 8,
1943
Aircraft History
One of thirty-two brand-new B-17E Flying Fortresses delivered to Cheyenne, Wyoming between May and June 1942. Originally bound for Britain as part of Lend-Lease agreement for RAF costal command. Boeing applied the RAF roundels and RAF Serial Number FL461 at the factory, but also retained their original Army Air Forces radio call numbers on their tails, which would be painted over after their arrival in England.
However, during the first week of August 1942, four of this batch of Fortresses: B-17E 41-9196, B-17E 41-9235, B-17E 41-9244 and this bomber instead reassigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group based at Port Moresby.
Mission History
On January 8,
1943 took off from 7-Mile Drome on its 13th mission. One of seven planes sent to bomb a convoy off Lae. Japanese fighters perused it and a second aircraft off the target. Damaged by flak, the plane limped back with two engines out of action and the nose damaged. Force landed on a hillside near the head of Black Cat Pass, east of Wau.
Rescue of the Crew
Papuan scouts and Australian Commando, R. A. Dunne were the first to reach the crash site. Australian troops assisted the crew by carrying them in litters down to Wau Airfield, where they were flown from Wau Airfield back to Port
Moresby in a RAAF Hudson.
Wreckage
After the war, this wreck puzzled many as weathering effects wore away the USAAF markings to reveal the original RAF roundels. Some incorrectly speculated the wreck was a RAF plane on a secret mission. Nicknames for the wreck evolved, including "Gray Ghost" to describe it.
Today, this wreck remains one of the most impressive and easily accessible aircraft wrecks in Papua New Guinea.
Relatives
Are you a relative of one of the crew members?
Contact Us to share a crew photo and details
References
Pacific
Ghosts CD-ROM featured with photos, video & history
Air
Enthusiast (Issues 100 and 101) by Robert Stitt & Janice Olson
The Battle For Wau pages 85-89
B-17
Photo Archive
7.2.14
146.48.21
Flightpath
