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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 64th BS  Nelson Oct 18, 1943  John Douglas 1999  Justin Taylan 2005  Justin Taylan 2014  Google Earth September 22, 2015 |
Pilot F/O Carl A. Nelson (survived) Emporia, KS Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. John H. Pfieffer (survived) Cunberland, MD Navigator 2nd Lt. Alexander E. Nagy (survived) Bombardier 2nd Lt. Wilbert Alwedt (survived) Gunner TSgt Troy W. Selvey, 18106991 (survived) Pueblo County, CO Gunner TSgt Lucian I. Oliver, 14070201 (survived) Memphis, TN Gunner SSgt Warren J. Brooks, 19173871 (survived) Los Angeles, CA Gunner SSgt Anthony J. Cantazaro, 32465203 (survived) Union County, NJ Gunner TSgt Paul L. Barbus, 06995067 (survived) Langhorne, PA Force Landed October 18, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego at a cost of $297,627. Constructors Number 1962. On May 26, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force as B-24D-110-CO Liberator serial number 42-40885. Flown overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia arriving July 14, 1943. Wartime History During July 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) "Ken's Men", 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS). No known nose art or nickname. This bomber flew a total of 35 combat missions before it force landed. Mission History On October 18, 1943 took off from 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby piloted by F/O Carl A. Nelson armed with 100 pound bombs on a bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. The formation included B-24 Liberators from the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) and 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG). Due to bad weather, the formation bombed the the alternate target, Hoskins Airfield. Damage was noted as one small lugger sunk in harbor and a large column of smoke and a fire in target area. Returning, this B-24 ran low on fuel approaching the coast of northern New Guinea. Pilot Nelson ordered the crew to bail out, while he and co-pilot Pfieffer force landed the bomber onto a flat grassy area west of Gona. Before landing, the inboard no. 2 and no. 3 engines were feathered. During the crash landing into what proved to be a sago swamp with kunai grass, the fuselage was bent and damaged. On impact, the no. 4 engine propeller broke off. Aboard, pilot Nelson and co-pilot Pfieffer were unhurt in the landing. The rest of the crew parachuted to the ground safely. In total, four B-24s were lost returning from the mission, this bomber, B-24D "Sky Lady" 41-24043 (crew rescued), B-24D "Ben Buzzard" 42-40670 (four rescued, two KIA and five MIA) and B-24D 41-41088 pilot Taylor (rescued). Fates of the Crew Aboard the bomber, pilot Nelson and co-pilot Pfieffer were unhurt in the landing. The rest of the crew parachuted to the ground safely. With the help of local people, the crew assembled at the crash site. Rescue The next day, three B-24s including two from 64th Bombardment Squadron and one from 63rd Bombardment Squadron spotted the crashed bomber and crew. From the air, they dropped supplies to them. Afterwards, the crew were led to Australian Army personnel and returned to duty. Pilot Nelson flew his next combat mission on October 29, 1943. On November 21, 1943 Oliver later went Missing In Action (MIA) on November 20, 1943 as radio/gunner aboard B-24D Liberator 42-40886. Wreckage After the crash, U.S. Army personnel recovered the cockpit instruments, all four engines, landing gear, machine guns, turrets and other usable equipment and equipment. The rest of the bomber was abandoned where it crashed and remains in situ to this day. John Douglas visited the crash site in 2000: "It is complete, but stripped. The villagers remember the plane crashed, including the fact that the pilot was named Nelson and the other crew member was a redhead." Justin Taylan first visited the crash site on September 4, 2005: "Locals told the story of how their fathers: Clive Burau, Hayward Geroya and Copland Vigaba were gardening in the area near where the bomber force landed. They witnessed the eight men bailing out, and the crash. One of the men, Copland Vigaba was given a note by the pilot and ran down to Yamboro where Australian soldiers were camped. He then led the Australians to the crash site to rescue the bomber's crew." Memorials Oliver later went Missing In Action (MIA) on November 20, 1943 as radio/gunner aboard B-24D Liberator 42-40886. He earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. He was memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After his remains were recovered and identified, a rosette was added next to his name. On March 24, 2011 he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in a group burial at section 60 grave 9644. Selvey passed away on February 27, 1973 at age 52. He is buried at Willamette National Cemetery in section M site 153. Cantazaro passed away on July 21, 1989 at age 68. He is buried at Rosedale and Rosehill Cemetery in Linden, NJ at plot OTIS-75-4 /SD. Nelson continued in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and served in the Vietnam War. He retired with the rank of Colonel. He passed away March 23, 1999 at age 76. He is buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO. at section 6, site 424. Barbus passed away on September 12, 2006 at age 85. He is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park in Lower Burrell, PA at section F plot 199. Relatives Robert Nelson (nephew of Carl Nelson) Are you a member or relative of this bomber's crew? Contact us References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Carl A. Nelson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Troy W. Selvey NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Lucian I. Oliver NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Warren J. Brooks NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Anthony J. Cantazaro NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Paul L. Barbus Individual Aircraft Reference Card (IARC) - B-24D Liberator 42-40885 USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-110-CO Liberator 42-40885 Flight Log F/O Carl A. Nelson October 18, 1943 "Bombed Hoskin strip. Crash landed 6 miles N.W. Gona Wreach (sp), 8 men bailed out all ok. 2 men with ship ok". Postwar, John Pfeiffer wrote an account of this mission. FindAGrave - Carl A Nelson (grave photo) FindAGrave - Troy William Selvey (grave photo) FindAGrave - Anthony Joseph Cantazaro FindAGrave - Paul L. Barbus (photos, grave photos) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-40885 YouTube "Pacific Wrecks Drone B-24 Liberator Papua New Guinea" December 31, 2014 Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume I (2016, 2020) pages 305-314 (October 18, 1943), 307 (photos) Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume II (2019) pages 372 (64th BS, 42-40885), 454 (index Nelson) 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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