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Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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USAAF 5th AF FEAF-CRTC 8th SrvG 7th ADS USAAF 1944 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Alfred J. Hamwey, O-813891 (MIA / KIA) Jacksonville, FL Gunner Cpl Melvin L. Huff, 37678751 (MIA / KIA) Eldora, IA Gunner Cpl Carmello J. Palermo, 12208112 (MIA / KIA) Rochester, NY MIA 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), 8th Service Group (8th SrvG), 7th Aerodrome Squadron (7 ADS) part of the Far East Air Force - Combat Replacement and Training Center (FEAF-CRTC). No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines R-2600-23 serial numbers (left) 36138 and (right) 57048. 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 combat mission against Cape Wom near Wewak. This A-20 was code-named "Sugar 622" was flying in the second element, number 2 position. Over the target, the formation made two bombing runs dropping two bombs each pass over Japanese positions near Cape Wom. This A-20 was last observed prior to the attack run. No enemy anti-aircraft fire was observed over the target nor was the crash of this aircraft observed. No distress call was heard over the VHF radio channel "B". 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 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 was heard that was believed to be this aircraft and the second element turned back towards 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. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on January 21, 1946. All three are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Hamwey earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Huff earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously Huff also has a memorial marker at Union Cemetery in Iowa Falls, IA. Palermo earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Wreckage The crash site of this A-20 remains in a sago swamp area of Cape Wom. The crash site known to the local community. Wreckage above the surface of the swamp include one wings, the main landing gear and tire, tail section and other wreckage. On October 26, 2014 locals guided Australian Steve Charles to the crash site who photographed the wreckage and reported the site to the U.S. authorities. The crash site was the subject of at least three visits by teams from Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). During 2016, the crash site was visited by several investigation teams (IT) from Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). During September 2022 a team from Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) conducted a 60 day mission at the crash site to recover remains. Diving in the shallow water and mud, they recovered two caskets of human remains from the wreckage. 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. Relatives Rick Meier (nephew of Palermo) "Nearly a year later, the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle 'Lost Corporal Listed Dead' from 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 Rochester Democrat & Chronicle "Lost Corporal Listed Dead" February 10, 1946 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - A-20G Havoc 43-21622 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alfred J. Hamwey American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Melvin L. Huff American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Carmello J. Palermo FindAGrave - 2Lt Alfred John Hamwey (photos, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Corp Melvin L Huff (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Melvin Huff (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Corp Carmello J “Carl” Palermo (tablets of the missing photo) 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." 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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