Pacific Wrecks

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

A-20G-10-DO Havoc Serial Number 42-54083

USAAF
5th AF
312th BG
389th BS

Former assignments
3rd BG
89th BS

Pilot  Major Selmon W. Wells (survived)
Gunner  SSgt Jack W. Bachelder (survived)
Ditched  March 13, 1944 at 8:40am
MACR none

Aircraft History
Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-20G-10-DO Havoc serial number 42-54083. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 89th Bombardment Squadron (89th BS). No known nickname or nose art. On March 4, 1944 assigned to the 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG), 389th Bombardment Squadron (389th BS). Tail letter unknown.

Mission History
On March 13, 1944 took off from Gusap Airfield No. 5 piloted by Major Selmon W. Wells leading eight other A-20s on a low level strike against Alexishafen Airfield No. 1 Strip. At 8:30am, the formation performed a low level strike over the target. This A-20 was hit by anti-aircraft fire and both engines begin smoking.

Damaged, this A-20 sucessfully ditched into the sea roughly two miles east of Sek Island. Both crew survived unhurt, but their life raft failed to automatically inflate and they were forced to partially inflate it by mouth.

Rescue
Meanwhile, A-20G pilot Col. Strauss circled over the downed crew and radioed the U.S. Navy at Saidor for a rescue and remained overhead until P-47D Thunderbolts arrived and dropped dye markers near the downed crew and orbited until a PBY Catalina landed to rescue them. Afterwards, both crew were flown to a U.S. Navy hospital ship off Saidor for treatment, then returned to duty.

References
Rampage of the Roarin' 20's (2009) pages 77-78, 363

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Last Updated
May 13, 2025

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