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| USAAF 5th AF FEAF-CRTC 8th SrvG 7th ADS  USAAF 1944  USAAF 1944  Steve Charles October 26, 2014  Rigsby August 27, 2022 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Alfred J. Hamwey, O-813891 (MIA / KIA, BR) Jacksonville, FL Gunner Cpl Melvin L. Huff, 37678751 (MIA / KIA, BR) Eldora, IA Gunner Cpl Carmello J. Palermo, 12208112 (MIA / KIA) Rochester, NY Crashed January 20, 1945 at 9:55am MACR 13316 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 21269. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-20G-40-DO Havoc serial number 43-21622. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), Far East Air Force - Combat Replacement and Training Center (FEAF-CRTC), 8th Service Group (8th SrvG), 7th Aerodrome Squadron (7 ADS). No known nickname or nose art. The plane was code named "Sugar 622" (622 was the last three digits of the tail serial number). When lost, engines R-2600-23 serial numbers left 36138 and right 57048. Armed with six .50 caliber machine guns in the nose, makers and serial numbers unknown plus two .50 caliber machine guns in the top turret makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On January 20, 1945 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 2nd Lt. Alfred J. Hamwey armed with napalm bombs as one of six A-20s on a strike mission against Cape Wom west of Wewak. This A-20 flying in the second element, number 2 position. The weather was ceiling and visibility unlimited (CAVU). Over the target, the formation made two bombing runs dropping two napalm bombs each pass over Japanese positions near Cape Wom. At 9:55am this A-20 was last observed before the attack commenced and no distress call was heard over the VHF radio on channel B used during the mission. No enemy anti-aircraft fire was observed over the target nor was the crash seen by any plane in the formation. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search When this A-20 failed to join the formation, the second element returned to the target area at 2,000'. They observed a fire across the base of Cape Wom, but assumed it was from their bombing and saw no sign of a crash through the trees nor the inshore side of Muschu Island. Next, the formation climbed to 4,000' and saw no sign of a downed plane in the water, only an oily patch at the tip of Cape Wom, assumed to have been caused by one of the bombs. A radio call believed to be this aircraft and the second element turned back to base while searched the route along the way and passing over Faita. After returning to base, the radio call turned out to be from A-20 pilot Lt. Nave. During the afternoon, two B-25s and two A-20s searched the entire in the vicinity of where the mission was conducted, without results. On January 21, 1945 five A-20s on a mission against Wewak also searched without results. On January 22, 1945 six A-20s searched the same area without results. Wreckage In fact, this A-20 crashed into a sago swamp on Cape Wom. The crash site was known to the local community since the war. The plane was partially submerged in shallow swamp water with the portions of the a wing, the main landing gear and tire and tail section above the surface plus other wreckage. On October 26, 2014 locals guided Australian Steve Charles to the crash site who photographed the wreckage and reported the site to Pacific Wrecks and U.S. authorities. Recovery of Remains The crash site was the subject of at least three visits by teams from Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). 1) During May 2016, the crash site was visited by an investigation teams (IT) from Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) visited the crash site and interviewed locals. 2) During July 2016, another investigation teams (IT) from Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) visited the crash site. 3) During September 2022 a team from Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) including senior research expert Greg Stratton and U.S. Navy (USN) Underwater Recovery Team specialists conducted a 60 day recovery mission at the crash site designated 22-6PG. They recovered remains, material evidence and life support items. The recovery work involved diving in the shallow water and mud. On September 22, 2022 the recovery mission was observed by U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby Charge D Affaires Mr. Joe Zadrozny who also was trained to work on a screening station. On October 14, 2022 a repatriation ceremony was held at Jackson Airport for two caskets of remains that were loaded aboard a U.S. Air Force (USAF) C-17 and flown to Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam (JBPHH) for forensic testing at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) laboratory. Hamwey was identified by dental and anthropological analysis, material evidence, circumstantial evidence and mDNA analysis. On May 20, 2024 he was accounted-for by the Department of Defense (DoD). Huff was identified. On July 30, 2024 he was accounted-for by the Department of Defense (DoD). Memorials Hamwey was officially declared dead on January 21, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After his identification, a rosette was added next to his name to indicate he was accounted-for. On September 12, 2024 at 2:30pm Hamwey will be laid to rest at Jacksonville National Cemetery in Jacksonville, FL. Huff was officially declared dead on January 21, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Huff also has a memorial marker at Union Cemetery in Iowa Falls, IA. Palermo was officially declared dead on January 21, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Relatives Helen I. Sellers Cranford (widow Alfred J. Hamwey, died 1998) Frank A, Hamwey (father Alfred J. Hamwey died 1930) Katherine C. Hamwey (mother Alfred J. Hamwey died 1947) Leon A. Hamwey (brother Alfred J. Hamwey died 2000) Frank Hamwey (great nephew Alfred J. Hamwey) Rick Meier (nephew of Carmello J. Palermo) "Nearly a year later, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle 'Lost Corporal Listed Dead' February 10, 1947 reports him listed as dead by the military. The article states, 'He was reported missed in action Jan. 20, 1945 when the attack bomber on which he was gunner failed to return from a mission over Wewak, New Guinea.' Article also says he entered the service in August 1943." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Alfred J. Hamwey NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Melvin L. Huff NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Carmello J. Palermo USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-20G-40-DO Havoc 43-21622 "21622 (8th BG) lost Jan 20, 1945, New Guinea." Missing Air Crew Report 13316 (MACR 13316) created January 21, 1945 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - A-20G Havoc 43-21622 Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) - Alfred J. Hamwey American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alfred J. Hamwey "Alfred J. Hamwey were accounted for in 2024" FindAGrave - 2Lt Alfred John Hamwey (photos, tablets of the missing) DPAA Personnel Profile - 2d Lt Alfred J Hamwey American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Melvin L. Huff FindAGrave - Corp Melvin L Huff (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Melvin Huff (memorial marker photo) DPAA Personnel Profile - Cpl Melvin L Huff Rochester Democrat & Chronicle "Lost Corporal Listed Dead" February 10, 1946 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Carmello J. Palermo FindAGrave - Corp Carmello J “Carl” Palermo (tablets of the missing photo) DPAA Personnel Profile - Carmello J Palermo (photo) KTVB "Idaho woman receives medals for brother killed in WWII" June 6, 2016 Idaho Press "Edith Walters talks about her late brother Corporal Melvin Lloyd Huff" July 14, 2016 YouTube - Edith Walters talks about her late brother Corporal Melvin Lloyd Huff July 14, 2016 DVIDS "22-6PG prep" August 11, 2022–October 7, 2022 images 1 of 87 The National "60-day research ended, remains repatriated" October 17, 2022 "Two caskets containing the remains of United States soldiers who died during World War Two have been repatriated back home after a ceremony in Port Moresby on Friday. The ceremony was also held to mark the end of a 60-day long research, investigation and collection of remains of a 80-year-old US fighter plane which had crashed in a swamp in Wom, East Sepik during the war." DPAA Press Release - Pilot Accounted for from WWII (Hamwey, A.) July 25, 2024 Quinn-Shalz Family Funeral Home "Alfred J. Hamwey" (obituary, funeral details, photos) DPAA Press Release - Airman Accounted For From World War II (Huff, M.) September 9, 2024 Thanks to Steve Charles and Rick Meier 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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