USAAF
5th AF
3rd BG
90th BS
Wilkinson Egimbari 2001
Pilot 1st Lt. Walter R. Gerry, O-798481
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Angelo C. Dellisnte, O-796333
Passenger Capt Rudolph W. Johnson, Jr., O-454104 (27th Air Depot)
Passenger Captain Lamar S. Russell, O-427867 (3rd BG, HQ)
Passenger S/Sgt Raymond Greene, 110242389 (3rd BG, 90th BS
Passenger S/Sgt Milton S. Miller, 11019883 (3rd BG, 13th BS)
Passenger S/Sgt Marvin E. Culbreth, 6973582 (3rd BG, 13th BS)
Passenger S/Sgt Charlie L. Fann, 14029330 (3rd BG, 13th BS)
Passenger Sgt Harold B. Davis, 15070329 (3rd BG, 13th BS)
Passenger S/Sgt Jack E. Beals, 13048390 (3rd BG, 90th BS)
Passenger S/Sgt Edward R. Howard, 11042384) 3rd BG, 90th BS)
Crashed February 1, 1944
MACR 2565
Aircraft History
Engines: R-2600-13 AAF Serial Numbers: 42-76989 and 42-76979
Mission
History
Took off from Horanda Drome, Dobodura in
the morning on a flight
to 7-Mile
Drome near Port Moresby. On board were several members from 27th Air Depot on board. Pilot 1/Lt Walter Gerry last radioed
Port Moresby at 0800 hours, advising he was returning due to bad weather,
but was never seen again.
Discovery
Remains of
the eleven aboard were located among the strewn wreckage on April
29, 1961 by a joint Australian Administration patrol (Rundel) and U.S recovery
team, at an altitude of 10,500 feet near the peak of Mt
Kenevi. They discovered
the site by accident. Not looking for Gerry’s bomber,
they were actually searching for a RAAF Anson which they later successfully
located on the area. The circumstances of this particular
Mitchell crash appear unorthodox however. It is clear from an unopened
parachute, which lies a good 200 metres behind the wreck, and with
attendant human remains, that at least one crew member bailed out
before the aircraft impacted.
In 2001, local villagers lead Wilkinson Egimbari to the site. They found personal effects and significant human remains still scattered among the main wreckage.
Relatives
Amanda Baird (niece of Fann):
"The article on your website has sparked renewed interest by my family. I am the youngest of Charlie L Fann's nieces and nephews and am very interested in this segment of our family's history."
References
Thanks to John Douglas and Michael Claringbould for historical
information.
B-25
9.06
147.44
Journey To Mt. Kenevi
