USAAF
13th AF
42nd BG
100th BS
Pilot 2nd Lt. John W. Magnum, O-751383 (KIA)
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Clarence W. Acker, O-765211 (KIA)
Navigator 2nd Lt. Thomas F. Quinn, O-569858 (KIA)
Radio Cpl Philip Arkus, 32802439 (KIA)
Engineer Sgt Carl V. Snyder, 35867076 (KIA)
Gunner Cpl Wallace E. Hough, 12199927(KIA)
Crashed January 11, 1945
MACR AFPPA-14 (April 10, 1946)
Mission History
Took off from Sansapor Airfield (Mar). Hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire, and crashed on after a low level bombing mission on Kendari Airfield on Celebes Island. The entire crew were presumed to perish. An eyewitness recalled in after action report: "It is believed that the aircraft was hit in the right engine just after dropping its bombs in the target area. The plane was observed to slowly settle while on fire. It crashed and exploded on a ridge 6,000 feet west of the target area P-1 at Kendari. The bombay doors were still open when the plane exploded. There was no chance for any of the crew to escape alive. (Ref Mission Report #245)"
Relatives
Christopher P. Brown (nephew)
"My Uncle was Thomas Quinn. I am hoping that those of you who search for aircraft remains in the S.W. Pacific may have information on, or have seen, the wreckage of my Uncle's B-25, and provide specific details as to its location and status. Quinn had completed his rotation and was due to be redeployed back to the U.S., the CO asked if he would volunteer for two additional missions. He was a B-25J pilot, but filled in as the navigator on the doomed flight. Shortly after receiving the MACR I located the 80 yr old wife of Clarence Acker, and she states that he was the pilot, not the co-pilot (I found her name by researching the WWII Memorial site for his listing and her name was posted"
B-25
