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| USAAF 5th AF 312th BG 388th BS  312th BG 1944 |
Pilot Major William S. Pagh, O-367251 (MIA / KIA) Fort Myers, FL Gunner Sgt Leonard E. Zelasko, 16146933 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Crashed August 11, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 21026. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-20G-40-DO Havoc serial number 43-21379. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History On August 10, 1944 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG), 388th Bombardment Squadron (388th BS). Tail letter W. Assigned to pilot Major William S. Pagh with crew chief J. S. Wray. Nicknamed it "Florida Gator" by Major Pagh for his home state of Florida with the nose art of a scroll with the nickname in captial letters with an aligator with an open mouth. On the left engine cowling was "Beth" inside a scroll with a wing on the rear side. Mission History On August 11, 1944 at 7:30am took off from Hollandia Airfield piloted by Major William S. Pagh with gunner Sgt Leonard E. Zelasko on a strike mission against Utarom in western New Guinea. This aircraft was leading the formation of twenty-four A-20s from 387th BS and 388th BS. Over the target, the organization of the mission broke down and A-20s attacked targets individually. Pagh attacked two barges off Utarom Airfield and was hit by anti-aircraft fire from a hill at the end of the runway. Other pilots reported the hill looked like a "solid sheet of flames" from anti-aircraft fire. Damaged in the right engine, this A-20 suddenly lost altitude and cart wheeled into the sea off Utarom. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Both crew were declared dead the day of the mission. Both are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Pagh was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Zelasko earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Leonard E. Zelasko USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-20G-40-DO Havoc 43-21379 "21379 (312th BG, 387th BS) shot down over Utarom, Dutch New Guinea Aug 11, 1944" Miami Herald "Capt. Pagh Promoted to Major" October 19, 1943 page 6 News-Press "Bill Pagh Killed In Action" Apr 26, 1944 page 1 News "Major Bill Pagh Killed In Action" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William S. Pagh American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leonard E. Zelasko FindAGrave - LtCol William Stanley Pagh (obituary, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Leonard E Zelasko (tablets of the missing photo) Rampage of the Roarin' 20s: The Illustrated History of the 312th Bombardment Group During World War II (2009) pages 156 (August 11, 1944), 157 (photo), 205 (profile 15), 213 (profile 15 detail), 349 (August 11, 1944 crew), 362 (388th BS, 43-21379), 384-385 (profile 15 description), 385 (photo), 405 (index Florida Gator) 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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 A-20  Photo Archive  MIA 2 Missing |
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