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| USAAF 5th AF 312th BG 388th BS   D Pennefather 1973   James Elum 2007 |
Pilot 1st Lt.
Billy B. Hollingshead, O-663730 (MIA / KIA, BR) Baird, TX Gunner SSgt Leonard H. Tilden, Jr., 6998469 (MIA / KIA) CT Crashed June 29, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 21063. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-20G-40-DO Havoc serial number 43-21416. Shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Wartime History During June 1944 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG), 388th Bombardment Squadron (388th BS). Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Billy B. Hollingshead, assistant flight leader. Nicknamed "Pistol Packing Mama". Tail letter H. Mission History On June 29, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Billy B. Hollingshead on a low level bombing mission against Yakamul to the east of Wewak. This aircraft was flying with a formation of A-20s from 386th Bombardment Squadron (386th BS). Last seen flying into heavy clouds and a rain squall minutes after take off near Kaiapit. When this plane failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage During May 1973, a villager named Lainisan discovered the crash site while pig hunting roughly two miles east of Kaiapit. He reported the discovery to Kiap (Patrol Officer) David Pennefather, bringing a piece of the instrument panel and some .50 caliber bullets as evidence. Recovery of Remains On May 22, 1973 Patrol Officer (Kiap) David Pennefather along with a group of seven locals located this crash site. During early November 1980, a US Army CILHI team recovered remains from this crash site. David Pennefather add: "At that time I was a Patrol Officer based at Kaiapit. I have before me the report I submitted to the district commissioner advising him of the discovery. The introduction to the report that I wrote is significant. It reads as follows: 'For about the past ten days I have been hearing reports of an aircraft crashed in the mountains North of Kaiapit Station. On Monday 14th May 1973 I sent two natives who knew the wreck to go and bring me back some form of identification. On the 17th May 1973 Councilor AMU of Samaran village and another Samaran man: Lainisan, delivered to me an aircraft instrument of American manufacture, a quantity of .50 caliber bullets and half a human skull, all found in the wreckage. Lainisan, myself and six other natives walked into the wreck site on Tuesday 22nd May 1973. While at the crash site I recovered the remains of both men. Hollingshead is buried near Abileen, Texas. To the best of my knowledge no next of kin could be found for Tilden - this may be incorrect. I think Tilden was from Florida. In 1979 I had the pleasure to stay with Hollingshead's family in Texas and visit his grave. Such nice people. This wreck site was again visited by a US Army team from CILHI in Hawaii. The locals told them about it and human remains. The Americans were pretty upset when they got back having found nothing and then discovering that I had been there 10 years before. It is not an easy walk." Brian Bennett adds: "I was in the area some years ago with JPAC on my investigation to hunt a P-40 that is missing a bit further inland. We got put on to this site that 'no one had been to'. As we headed out towards the LZ at the communications tower I had a feeling that we were being led to the Hollingshead site. A local came out of the bush with a engine panel. It turned out that there was a huge fight going on over this piece of land between two clans. This is the same site that that bunch of Americans from the midwest had been to with no research and had said they had a MIA site." James K. Elum visited on December 22, 2007: "Aircraft remains scattered. Much of the aircraft is destroyed by erosion and landslides. What still remains is half the body (including wings and cockpit), two engines, parts of the wing, one propeller (buried) bombs and guns." Memorials Both crew members were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Both are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Hollingshead earned the earned the Silver Star, Air Medal and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, postumously. He is buried at Potosi Cemetery , TX. Tilden earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 34 site 1407. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Billy B. Hollingshead USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-20G-40-DO Havoc 43-21416 Abilene Reporter "Posthumous Star To Baird Airman" October 17, 1944 Valley News "World War II Veteran Returns After 31 Years" March 31, 1974 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Billy B. Hollingshead FindAGrave - Billy B. Hollingshead (grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leonard H. Tilden, Jr. FindAGrave - Leonard H Tilden, Jr (grave photo) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - A-20G Havoc 43-21416 Bruce Hoy Diary 11 November, 1980 "Tuesday, drove out to the airport at 8.00am and met the CIL‑HI team arriving from Lae. I gave them the appropriate export certificates covering the remains collected from P-38H 42-66562, A-20G 43-21416 and C-47A 42-24215." Rampage of the Roarin' 20s (2009) pages 25 (photo) 47-51, 107 (photo), 121-122 (June 29, 1944), 122 (photo), 348 (June 29, 1944 43-21416), 361 (388th BS, 43-21416) 406 (index Hollingshead), 411 (index Pistol Packin' Mama) Thanks to David Pennefather, Bruce Hoy, Brian Bennett and John Douglas for additional information 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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