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| USAAF 5th AF FEAF-CRTC 8th SrG Former Assignments 3rd BG 13th BS   M Claringbould 1976 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. George A. Campagna, O-758152 (KIA, BR) Coos County, NR Engineer Cpl Edward J. Domohowski, 11093240 (KIA, BR) Jamaica Plain, MA Gunner Cpl Ross W. Barnes (KIA, BR) MA Crashed October 1, 1944 MACR 10022 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-20G-20-DO Havoc serial number 42-86717. 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). Tail letter V. No known nickname or nose art. This A-20 flew combat missions over New Guinea. Afterwards, assigned to FEAF - CRTC (Far East Air Force - Combat Replacement Training Center) the 8th Service Group (8th SrG) at Nadzab Airfield No. 4 (APO 713, Unit 1). No known nickname or nose art. This aircraft a red stripe with a thin white stripe below on the tip of the tail. On the side of the nose was "CRTC School" in white block letters. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engine serial numbers unknown. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On October 1, 1944 at 10:06am took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 2nd Lt. George A. Campagna on a local training flight with A-20G "Crap Shooter" 42-54155 bound for Lae. The weather at take off was broken high clouds with scattered low clouds 3/10 at 3,000' with ceiling unlimited and visibility of 12 miles and surface wind of 3 mph. After take off, both aircraft were never seen again. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search After being reported missing, a search for both missing A-20s was directed by 1st Lt. Edward A. McFadden. That same day, the first search mission was flown by 1st Lt. R. F. Hedlin who took off at 3:30pm from Nadzab Airfield flying to Finschafen with nil sightings before returning by 4:25pm. The weather during the search was ceiling of 3,000' and visibility unlimited. On October 2, 1944 two aircraft searched the both missing planes between 7:32am until 11:06am. Weather during his search was ceiling and visibility unlimited (CAVU). The first aircraft was piloted by 1st Lt. E. L. Spence took off from Nadzab Airfield flew up the Markham Valley past Gusap and Dumpu as far Bundi then returned with nil sightings. The second aircraft was piloted by 1st Lt. R. F. Hedlin took off from Nadzab Airfield up the Markham Valley past Dumpu and along the eastern slopes of the Finisterre Range and across to Madang Airfield where he landed, then returned along the same route with nil sightings. Wreckage In fact, both A-20s crashed into a steep slope in the Saruwaged Range (Sarawaket, Sarawaget) at roughly Lat 6.30 Long 146.49 to the north of Nadzab. Aboard, the entire crew was killed in the crash. Nearby was the crash site of A-20G "Crap Shooter" 42-54155. During the late 1970s, the crash site included the nose with "CRTC School" in white with two .50 caliber machine guns inside. Also present was the tail with serial number "286717" [42-86717] The tip of the tail painted with a red horizontal stripe and a thin white stripe below it. Also present was the wing wreckage with the U.S. star and bar visible. Michael Claringbould visited this aircraft in 1976: "At the time and had "CRTC School painted on its nose." Recovery of Remains Afterwards, the crash site was located by U.S. Army personnel and remains of the three crew were recovered and transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Campagna was buried at Saint Anne Cemetery in Berlin, NH. Domohowski was buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot A, row 13, grave 74. Barnes was buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 12 site 2344. Relatives Ben Palleiko (great nephew of Domohowski) "If anybody has visited it recently, I would love to hear if it or the other plane is still in place - I would like to visit sometime if so." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George A. Campagna NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward J. Domohowski USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-20G-20-DO Havoc 42-86717 "86717 (8th Service Group) crashed into steep slope in Saruwaged Mountains, a few miles N of Nadzab, PNG Oct 1, 1944 on flight to Lae. MACR 10022. All 3 crew killed." Missing Air Crew Report 10022 (MACR 10022) created October 2, 1944 Missing Air Crew Report 10019 (MACR 10019) created October 2, 1944 page 5 mentions pilot Campagna Pacific Aircraft Wrecks page 44 (upper left) FindAGrave - 2LT George Alfred Campagna (grave photo) FindAGrave - Corp Edward J Domohowski (grave photo) FindAGrave - Corp Ross W Barnes (grave photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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