USAAF
5th AF
43rd BG
63rd BS
September
1943
John Douglas 2002
Justin Taylan 2003
Pilot Captain Robert L. Coleman, O-789137 (Wilmington, DE)
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Kenneth L. Cassidy, O-802017(Worcester, MA)
Bombardier 2nd Lt Irving Schechner, O-673737 (Brooklyn, NY)
Navigator 1st Lt George E. Wallinder, O-662400 (San Antonio, TX)
Engineer T/Sgt Paul Miecias, 32302997 (Piscataway, NJ)
Gunner S/Sgt Albert J. Caruso, 32464441 (Kearny, NJ)
Gunner T/Sgt William L. Fraser, 17035405 (Maplewood, MO)
Gunner S/Sgt
Robert E. Frank, 32303093 (Plainfield, NJ)
Gunner T/Sgt Robert C. Morgan, 16039363 (Flint, MI)
Gunner Pvt
Joseph Thompson, 19039138 (Compton, CA)
Observer 2nd Lt Roland F. Ward, O-736737 (Cambridge, MA)
MIA December 3, 1943
MACR 1459
Aircraft History
This B-24 was radar equipped. This bomber was originally assigned to the 2nd Sea Search Attack Squadron. Assigned to Project Number 96189R
by Lt. Col Edward W. Scott left
the United States on October 1, 1943. Ferried overseas to Australia, it arrived at at 7-Mile Drome at Port Moresby on October 21, 1943. There, it was assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group.
Mission History
This Liberator went missing between Dobodura and Hanover
Island, Bismarck Sea area
on an armed reconnaissance of the area. It radioed at 0035/L "Why
aren't lights on?", presumably because it could not find Dobodura.
This was the last message from the aircraft, and further attempts
to establish
radio contact failed. A two day search of
the area north of Cape
Gloucester, its last reported position, failed to locate any
sign of the aircraft.
Wreckage
John Douglas made
a visit to Deboin in December 2000, following up on a number
of wreck stories in the area, including on that sounded like a four
engine bomber. As a result of that visit, Deboin
villagers produced the Robert E Frank's dogtag, a description of the wreck,
and its location to Douglas in February 2001.
He reported this discovery during the CILHI PNG MIA Conference, which he attended in April 2001. Also, he informed pacificwreck.com, which reported the discovery.
Initial Investigations
After learning
of the site, US Army CILHI visited
Deboin by helicopter, but was unable to locate the wreck during their
short visit. In fact, another village to the south was the landowner
of the wreck site, and also had knowledge of the wreck.
John Douglas was contacted by Sandy Smith, the daughter of one of the crew members, who had been to a 43rd BG reunion and learned about the discovery of her father's plane. She asked John Douglas to take photos of the site for her. In May 2003, John Douglas' wreck tec, again visited the site to take photographs.
Recovery
In April 2004, the crash site was the focus of a complete MIA recovery
operation by JPAC, where
seven bodies were recovered, and personal items.
Relatives
Carolyn Fox adds:
[Pvt. Joseph
Thompson] is a cousin once removed of my husbands. We were contacted
by his daughter in Dec 2002. David and LeRoy Minter have given blood
samples for the mDNA match when they do get Joseph's remains recovered.
B-24D 42-40475 went down Dec 03, 1945 over Papua New Guinea
and has been found by one of John
Douglas' wreck tecs. I'm trying to get the government more interested
in recovering the remains of Joseph and his crew mates. We want to bring
him home.
Howard K. Anderson adds:
"You may be interested in knowing that one crewman, Pvt.
Joseph Thompson, has a daughter living in West Australia who is a
good friend of mine. When I informed her of the find she was delighted.
Her name is Sandra Smith. We can only hope that CILHI will be able
to recover some of his remains and that she can gain possession of
them some day. Sandra never met her father, who was killed before
she was born. Her mother is deceased and just recently she lost her husband
who died in auto accident."
Chris Gauld adds:
"My grandmother is Jennie M. Gauld, who lives in Greenbrook, , NJ. She is Paul Miecias sister. She is 90 years old and the only surviving direct member of his family."
B-24
MIA
(Resolved)
Robert E. Frank Dogtag
Post Courier
MIA Recovery
Official New Release
Missing Airmen Identified
NY Daily News
B'rooklyn Hero Found
Telegram
Cassidy IDed
