USAAF
13th AF
307th BG
424th BS
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Pilot 1st Lt. George K. Trager, O-442557 (MIA / KIA) KS
Crew 2nd Lt Theodore Barton, O-662722 (MIA / KIA) TX
Crew 2nd Lt. George G. Radford, O-387242 (MIA / KIA) ID
Crew 2nd Lt. Hiram E. Battersby, O-728250 (MIA / KIA) PA
Crew S/Sgt. William A. Stearns, 19049588 (MIA / KIA) OK
Crew T/Sgt Hiram W. Meigs, 20467632 (MIA / KIA) AL
Crew S/Sgt Leo J. Eilts, 39679465 (MIA / KIA) NE
Crew Sgt Herman E. Selvig, 16022598 (MIA / KIA) WI
Crew Sgt Elbert H. Boyer, 36176998 (MIA / KIA) MI
Shot Down February 13, 1943
MACR 560
Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated. Constructors Number 772. Engines R-1830-43 Serial Numbers: 1) 41-23??0 2) 42-4820 3) 42-??414 4) 42-42379.
Mission History
One of six B-24s that took off from Henderson Field as the second wave of a bombing mission against shipping in the Shortland-Buin area. Escorted by 4 P-38s and 7 P-40s (2 P-38s and 3 P-40s abort due to engine trouble).
Over the target, this B-24 suffered a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire over Shortland Harbor. It caught fire and disintegrated with the loss of the entire crew.
Justin Taylan adds:
"I researched this mission at the Tokyo Defense archives. The following Japanese aircraft attacked: 11 Rufes (one aborted) of 802nd Kokutai, 20 Zeros of the 252nd Kokutai and 9 Zeros of the 204th Kokutai. A total of 39 Japanese aircraft."
Memorials
All crew members are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
References
Guadalcanal and the Origins of the 13th Air Force, pg 180-181
Vampire Squadron, page 25-26
Kodochosho, 802nd Kokutai, February 13, 1943
Kodochosho, 204th Kokutai, February 13, 1943
Kodochosho, 252nd Kokutai, February 13, 1943
ABMC lists Barton and Battersby as dead April 13, 1943 [sic]
Pilot Trager is also sometimes listed as 'Traeger'.
Thanks to Paul Roales for additional information
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Last Updated
October 1, 2009
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B-24
 MIA
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