Pilot Captain Warren G. Hornaday, O-424954 (MIA / KIA) IN
Observer F/O Howard M. Krause, T-192009 (MIA. / KIA) NE
Crew Cpl. Billy L. Anderson
Crashed May 7, 1943
Pilot History
Hornaday
was the C. O. of 6th Night Fighter Squadron.
Aircraft History
Although this aircraft is listed as a P-61, it is possibly a P-70 (A-20 Havoc night fighter).
Mission History
Seen to dive through a low overcast and failed to pull out,
and crashed into the sea, 100 yards off Pyramid Point, entrance
to Bootless Bay to the
east of Port
Moresby. The crew is listed as MIA / KIA.
Queen of the Midnight skies page ?
"The first fatality on Newguinea was that of the detachments C. O. Capt Hornaday and his R/O ; F/O Howard M kreuse shortly after their arrival. Hornaday was flying under the hood in a practise flight. He and an accompaning P-70 flown by John Florence entered a thin layer of clouds. When Florence came out of the clouds hornadays P-70 was nowhere to be seen. It was later learned that an anti-aircraft battery on the coast observed Hornadays plane spin into the sea. Florence recalls: Evidently, he looked out while in the cloud layer and became disorientated."
Memorials
The crew was declared dead the day of the mission. They are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
References
Some sources incorrectly list this aircraft as a P-61. Other sources list the date of loss as May 8, 1943. Another source lists crew member Krause as returned to duty (incorrectly).
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Last Updated
October 1, 2009
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