USAAF
5th AF
90th BG
400th BS
Pilot 1st Lt Scott Regan,
O-437653 (MIA)
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt George O. Kerby Jr., O-662801 (MIA)
Crew 2nd Lt John L. Crane Jr., O-791569 (MIA)
Crew 2nd Lt Jerome A. Lesser, O-727640 (MIA)
Crew S/Sgt Earl L. Byrd, 14053648 (MIA) Bryson City, NC
Crew S/Sgt Albert S. Cowles, 12057523 (MIA)
Crew Sgt Francis L. Fox, 39237912 (MIA)
Crew Sgt Clifford S. Low, 19085714 (MIA)
Crew Sgt Paul C. Vinson, 31108405 (MIA)
Crew Cpl Floyd E. McCallum, 36169194 (MIA)
MIA January 22, 1943
MACR 15722
Mission History
Took off from Wards Drome near Port Moresby for a reconnassiance mission over Wewak,
and to search for the crew of
B-24D 41-24101, MIA two days eariler. Last radio message received, "intercepted by Zeros.".
It is likely this bomber was shot down by A6M2 Zero fighters of the Junyō Detachment temporarily based at Wewak Airfield.
Searches
The following day 90th BG B-24s again flew armed reconnassiance of Wewak and searched for Regan's plane, but failed to locate it.
Post war searches failed to locate their remains and they were presumed dead on January 8, 1946.
Relatives
George Corwin (nephew of Floyd E. McCallum)
Robert Byrd (nephew of Earl L. Byrd)
"If the wreck is ever found my uncle, SSG Earl Byrd would still have his Colt .45 hog leg revolver on him."
References
Ricahrd Dunn's article "Wewak - The Early Days" mentions this loss.
The Jolly Rogers, page 195
B-24
MIA
