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| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 321st BS    90th BG c1943  Ed Widdis c1943   Bruce Hoy 1973 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. John T. Moller, O-791231 (KIA, BR) Mt. Vernon, NY Crew 1st Lt. Stanley D. Whitney Jr., O-662324 (KIA, BR) Alameda, CA Crew 1st Lt. Hobert H. Thompson, O-727585 (KIA, BR) Harris, MO Crew 2nd Lt. Olyn H. Hill, O-134561 (KIA, BR) Louisville, MS Crew 2nd Lt. Leonard H. Weiler, O-673653 (KIA, BR) New Orleans, LA Crew TSgt Harold E. Hampsmire, 17031059 (KIA, BR) Hull, IL Crew TSgt Morris E. Acuff, 14044136 (KIA, BR) Eustis, FL Crew SSgt Harris H. "Skippy" Horder, 10641078 (KIA, BR) Ervington, NJ Crew SSgt Kosta Giannaras, 15087742 (KIA, BR) Whitesville, WV Crew SSgt Edward D. Rogers, 16023261 (KIA, BR) Ashland, WI Crew SSgt William Saltzman, 36045293 (KIA, BR) Chicago, IL Crew SSgt Joseph G. Barry, 17035379 (KIA, BR) Jefferson County, IL Crashed August 8, 1943 MACR 15575 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 546. During July 1942 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-1-CO Liberator serial number 41-23751. On September 12, 1942 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG), 321th Bombardment Squadron (321st BS) to pilot Leroy C. "Ivy" Iverson who ferried the bomber from Hamilton Field via Hickam Field and Kipapa Gulch Field on Oahu then overseas via Christmas Island Airfield, Samoa, Nadi Airfield and Plaine Des Gaiacs Airfield before arriving at Amberley Field near Brisbane in Australia. Wartime History This bomber was one of the first B-24D Liberators to arrive in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). While waiting for ten days at Amberley Field, tail gunner Jack R. Cantrell painted the nose art of a fanged black cat atop a bomb on the left side of the nose. Afterwards, operated from Mareeba Airfield and Iron Range Airfield. Later, nicknamed "Big Emma" in white stylized block letters with a shadow on the right side of the nose. On the frame of the pilot's canopy window was "Ivy", the nickname of regular pilot Leroy C. Iverson. On the left side of the nose was a scoreboard with twenty-six bomb markings with a star above each indicating missions flown. Below were two rows (10-2) of Japanese fighter silhouettes indicating enemy planes claimed by gunners. On November 16, 1942 at Iron Range Airfield shortly after midnight, while taking off, B-24D "Bombs To Nip On" 41-23942 collided with this B-24, damaging it. Also damaged were B-24D 41-23765 and B-24D 41-23812, both later repaired. Destroyed was B-17F 41-24522. Afterwards, this bomber was repaired and continued flying combat missions from Australia over New Guinea. Sometime after June 30, 1943, the left tail fin from B-24D 41-23764 destroyed in a Japanese air raid was used as a replacement right tail fin for this bomber. When lost, engine serial numbers and .50 caliber machine guns and .30 caliber machine gun makers and serial numbers not listed in Missing Air Crew Report 15575 (MACR 15575). Mission History On August 8, 1943 took off from 5 Mile Drome (Wards Drome) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. John T. Moller on a patrol mission off the north coast of New Guinea. After completed the mission, this bomber was returning to Port Moresby when it experienced terrible weather conditions. The last radio message was to Port Moresby to requesting them to "turn on searchlights". Unable to see them, pilot Moller radioed his crew would bail out. That was the last radio message received from the bomber. In fact, this B-24 crashed into a mangrove swamp roughly a quarter mile from the south coast of New Guinea, possibly attempting to ditch into shallow water near Galley Reach (Fairfax Station) to the west of Port Moresby. The entire crew was killed in the crash. Recovery of Remains When U.S. Army personnel reached the crash site they discovered the entire crew had perished. They used a water pump to drain the sea water from the mangrove swamp to search for and recover the remains of the crew. Postwar, the remains of the crew were transported to Hawaii and the United States for permanent burial. Wreckage Until the early 1970s, the wreckage of this bomber remained in situ in a mangrove swamp. The crash site included the tail section with serial number "123764" on the right side of the tail fin from B-24D 41-23764. Bruce Hoy adds: "This aircraft is lying in the same position as described in the various reports and is the only aircraft in that vicinity. Attached is a black and white image showing its serial number [stenciled on the inside part of the right tail fin]. I also have a side view photograph somewhere, taken of the aircraft at Wards Drome. I must have taken two cameras with me as I also have a series of slides taken with Kodachrome Colour Slide film. Getting out to this crash site was one I would never wish to repeat. Each step and my legs disappeared almost up to my knees. The mosquitoes were prolific, and we were both very concerned should we encounter a crocodile. The serial number was also painted on the inboard of the starboard tail fin. The aircraft is in the location where the bodies were recovered. You can see the inboard serial number with my fellow traveler being Monty Armstrong. I have another taken of the outboard of the same fin, but the serial does not show very clearly due to excessive corrosion." During the 1990s, locals cut up and removed most of the bomber's aluminum for scrap metal. All that remains today are the larger metal pieces including both main undercarriage legs, a piece of armor plate and other smaller wreckage. Justin Taylan adds: "I visited this crash site in 2014 and all that remains are the larger pieces submerged in the mangrove swamp including the landing gear, engines and a piece of armor plate and other smaller pieces of wreckage. Most of the aluminum was scrapped by local people." Memorials The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. Each crew member earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Moller is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot A row 0 grave 95. Whitney is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland, CA at the main mausoleum garden terrace C-248 T-2. Thompson is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Coldwater, KS. He is also memorialized on the Crown Hill Cemetery war memorial obelisk. Hill is buried at Corinth National Cemetery in Corinth MS at section D site 5829. Weiler is buried in May 1949 at Cypress Grove Cemetery in New Orleans, LA. Hampsmire is buried in Akers Chapel Cemetery in Hull, IL. Acuff is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot B row 0 grave 11297. Horder is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot P row 0 grave 555. Giannaras is buried at Lawson Cemetery in Boone County, WV. Rogers is buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Ashland, WI. Saltzman is buried at Waldheim Jewish Cemetery in Forest Park, IL. Barry is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot C row 1 grave 612. Relatives Cynthia Trenkamp (niece of Hampsmire) References Note, the serial number of this bomber is often confused with B-24D Liberator 41-23764 in published sources NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John T. Moller NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Stanley D. Whitney Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Hobert H. Thompson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Olyn H. Hill NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Leonard H. Weiler NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harold D. Hampsmire middle inital listed incorrectly as "D" [sic E] NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Morris E. Acuff NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harris H. Horder NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Kosta Giannaras NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward D. Rogers NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William Saltzman NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Joseph G. Barry USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-5-CO Liberator 41-23751 Individual Aircraft Reference Card (IARC) B-24D 41-23751 Missing Air Crew Report 15575 (MACR 15575) created circa April 1946 does not list the B-24 serial number nor any of the engines or weapon serial numbers The Western Star "Lt. Hobert Thompson is Missing In Action" August 27, 1943 "Lieut. Thompson was one of the American fliers who sank all 22 of the Jap invasion fleet in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, the most stinging defeat the Japanese had yet suffered. Not an enemy ship, including thousands of Japanese soldiers, escaped. Hobert wrote home, "Don't forget to remind me to tell you about March 3d and 4th when I get home." PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24 Liberator "Big Emma" 41-23764 [sic 41-23751] Bruce Hoy adds: "Claringbould's books, Forty of the Fifth and The Forgotten Fifth gives two identities for "Big Emma". The first book lists 41-23751 and the second 41-23764. Peter Dunn's website makes reference to a combat diary which quotes Iverson as the pilot for 41-23751 with the nickname “Big Emma”, although the two pages of a diary that was pictured on the web page do not give a corresponding nickname in the same manner that several other B-24s have had their nicknames mentioned, B-24D "Pudgy" 41-23830 and B-24D "Patches" 41-23673 although when these names were added and who actually added these names is unknown. Other pages in that diary may mention 41-23751 as being "Big Emma". Neither of the published histories, John Alcorn’s The Jolly Rogers or Wiley Woods Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group quote the serial number of Big Emma, although Wiley in a letter to me mentions both the serial number and nickname." The Jolly Rogers (1981) mentions this aircraft but does not list the serial number Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group (1994) mentions this aircraft but does not list the serial number Forty of the Fifth (1999) pages 58-62 [ sample chapter ] lists B-24 "Big Emma" serial number as 41-23751 [sic] The Forgotten Fifth (2007) lists B-24D "Big Emma" serial number as 41-23764 [sic] Oz@War - 16 November 1942 crash of a B-24 Liberator at Iron Range 4 aircraft destroyed 11 men killed FindAGrave - John T Moller (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Stanley Daniel Whitney, Jr (grave photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Hobert Harvey Thompson (photo, obituary, grave photos) The Sedalia Democrat "Lt. Thomas, Young Flier, Is Missing Former Sedalian Was A Co-Pilot On A Bomber" September 2, 1943 page 1 The Western Star "Lt. Hobert Thompson is Missing In Action Was The Co-pilot of B-24 Liberator Bomber in Pacific" August 27, 1943 FindAGrave - Olyn H Hill (grave photo) FindAGrave - Leonard Hugo Weiler (grave photo) FindAGrave - Harold E. Hampsmire (grave photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Morris E Acuff (grave photo) FindAGrave - Harris H Horder (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Kosta Giannaras (photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Edward D. Rogers (grave photo) FindAGrave - Sgt William Saltzman (grave photo) FindAGrave - Joseph G Barry (grave photo) Thanks to Bruce Hoy, Pete Johnson, Robert Livingstone and John Douglas for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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