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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 400th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt Scott L. Regan, O-437653 (MIA / KIA) CA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt George D. Kerby Jr., O-662801 (MIA / KIA) MD Crew 2nd Lt John L. Crane Jr., O-791569 (MIA / KIA) NY Crew 2nd Lt Jerome A. Lesser, O-727640(MIA / KIA) NY Crew S/Sgt Earl L. Byrd, 14053648 (MIA / KIA) Bryson City, NC Crew S/Sgt Albert S. Cowles, 12057523 (MIA / KIA) NY Crew Sgt Francis L. Fox, 39237912 (MIA / KIA) CA Crew Sgt Clifford S. Low, 19085714 (MIA / KIA) OR Crew Sgt Paul C. Vinson, 31108405(MIA / KIA) NH Crew Cpl Floyd E. McCallum, 36169194 (MIA / KIA) MI MIA January 22, 1943 MACR 15722 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 839. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-15-CO Liberator serial number 41-24044. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG), 400th Bombardment Squadron (400th BS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On January 22, 1943 took off from 5 Mile Drome (Ward) near Port Moresby pilot 1st Lt Scott L. Regan on a reconnaissance mission over Wewak and to search for the downed crew of B-24D Liberator 41-24101 ditched two days earlier with the crew Missing In Action (MIA) and Prisoner Of War (POW). The last radio message received from this bomber was "intercepted by Zeros". When this bomber failed to arrive it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, this B-24 was was shot down by A6M2 Zero fighters from the Junyō Detachment temporarily based at Wewak Airfield. Searches The next day, B-24 Liberators from the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) again flew armed reconnaissance over Wewak and searched for this bomber and Martindale, but failed to locate either. Memorials Post war searches failed to locate their remains and they were presumed dead on January 8, 1946. The entire crew is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. 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 USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-15-CO Liberator 41-24044 "24044 lost flying recon mission near Wewak, New Guinea Jun 22, 1943" PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator piloted by Regan (does not list serial number) Wewak - The Early Days by Richard Dunn mentions this loss The Jolly Rogers (1997) page 195 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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 B-24  MIA 10 Missing |
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