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| USAAF 5th AF 3rd BG 13th BS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Norman H. Williams, O-798393 (MIA / KIA) Franklin County, OH Radio/Gunner SSgt Lee W. Phillips, 37329194 (survived) Kalmazoo, MI Photographer Sgt Raymond E. Stricklin, 35209754 (MIA / KIA) Ohio County, WV Crashed February 28, 1944 MACR 16143 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-20G-20-DO Havoc serial number 42-86627. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 13th Bombardment Squadron (13th BS). No known nickname, nose art or markings. Mission History On February 28, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 2nd Lt. Norman H. Williams on a strike mission against Hansa Bay. Aboard were radio/gunner SSgt Lee W. Phillips and photographer Sgt Raymond E. Stricklin. Over the target, hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed near Laing Island. The crash was observed by gunners aboard other planes including SSgt Richard F. Blake, 33323965 SSgt George E. Rossomme, 13089574. When this A-20 failed to return it was officially listed as Mission In Action (MIA). Fates of the Crew The sole survivor, SSgt Lee W. Phillips survived the crash and floated at sea. Two hours later, he was rescued by PBY Catalina piloted by Lt(jg) Walter J. Gillard Jr. from VP-34 that landed off Laing Island. Memorials Williams was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Williams is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at New Antioch Cemetery in New Antioch, OH. Stricklin was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medaland Purple Heart, posthumously. Stricklin is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-20G-20-DO Havoc 42-86627 NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Norman H. Williams NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Lee W. Phillips NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Raymond E. Stricklin Missing Air Crew Report 16143 (MACR 16143) created retroactively circa 1945–1946 lists plane as simply "A-20G" but does not list the plane's serial number, engine numbers or weapon serial number. 13th Squadron Combat Narrative - February 28, 1944 "28 Feb. FFO 59C: - 9 A-20's attacked enemy stores at Hansa Bay, New Guinea. All bombs were dropped in the target area and many small fires were started with unobserved results. One of our planes crashed in Hansa Bay and no life rafts were seen. 27 x 500 lb. Bombs and 8,000 x .50 cal. ammo. were expended. . . . During the month Dagua airdrome was raided twice and Hansa Bay once. Fires were started in dispersal and store areas in all three strikes. . . . On the Hansa Bay raid (28th) one A-20 was lost but the gunner was saved by a Catalina.” Diary of 1st Lt. Clifford P. Taylor (A-20 pilot, 13th BS) "This morning we were scheduled to go to Hansa Bay to take care of personnel & supplies. Each ship had 4 x 500 8-11 sec delay bombs... As we turned down the coast “Norm” Williams got hit in the left engine. He feathered the prop & tried to keep it going, but after hitting the water four successive times with his tail he cartwheeled in... The rest of us all got back okay & we later got a report back that a “Cat” had picked up one of the gunners." Statement by S/Sgt Phillips "I saw Lt. Williams and Sgt. Stricklin on the right hand side of the fuselage, both their faces were bloody although I couldn't [tell] how badly they were injured. Lt. Williams called for Sgt. Stricklin to come over closer and moved over to assist him as the sergeant appeared badly wounded. Lt. Williams had his Mae West inflated, but Sgt. Stricklin didn't. As the plane settled I was turned about by rough waves and when I again was able to look, neither was visible..." NARA VP-34 War Diary February 1944 "28 February 1944 - Lieut. (jg) Gillard (08283) covering a strike against Hansa Bay installations, landed in heavy swells in Hansa Bay within range of enemy shore batteries and picked up an injured pilot [sic] whose aircraft had been shot down during the strike." NARA Fleet Air Wing Seventeen – War Diary of Task Group 73.1 from 2400 (LCT) 31 January 1944 to 2400 (LCT), 29 February 1944. "On 28 February 1944 Lieut. (jg) W. Gillard proceeded to Hansa Bay with fighter cover and picked up an Army airman who had been shot down and made a forced landing at this point. The rescue was effected in a moderate sea with heavy swells, without injury to the plane. The fighter escort strafed ground positions nearby to draw fire away from the Catalina." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Norman H. Williams FindAGrave - 2Lt Norman H Williams (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Norman H. Williams (memorial marker) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Raymond E. Stricklin FindAGrave - Sgt Raymond E Stricklin (tablets of the missing) Thanks to Edward Rogers for research and analysis Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 29, 2024
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 A-20  MIA 2 Missing |
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