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| USAAF 5th AF 27th BG 91st BS |
Pilot 2nd Richard H. Launder, O-421633 (survived) Los Angeles, CA Gunner Cpl Irvin W. Lnenicka, 06581779 (survived) Surprise, NB Ditched February 20, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Douglas. Constructors Number 893. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-24 Dive Bomber serial number 41-15760. Disassembled and shipped overseas across the Pacific and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 27th Bombardment Group (27th BG), 91st Bombardment Squadron (91st BS). This aircraft had an unknown tail number (two digits). No known nose art or nickname. On August 25, 1941 suffered landing damage and afterwards was repaired. By early February 1942 operated from Singosari Airfield (Malang) in eastern Java. On February 20, 1942 took off from Singosari Airfield (Malang) on Java piloted by 2nd Richard H. Launder, O-421633 with gunner Cpl Irvin W. Lnenicka, 06581779 as one of seven A-24 Dive Bombers on a dive bombing mission against the Japanese landing force off Bali. Over the target, this A-24 was hit by anti-aircraft fire in the oil cooler. Lost is A-24 Dive Bomber 41-15796 pilot 2nd Lt Douglas B. Tubb (MIA). Damaged, Launder almost landed at Denpasar Airfield occupied by the Japanese before realizing his error and aborted his landing and continued to fly before ditching into the sea roughly eight miles away. Both crew were bruised in the crash but survived. Afterwards, the fate of this aircraft is unknown and was likely abandoned on Java. This aircraft was officially condemned on November 7, 1942. Memorials Launder continued in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and retired with the rank of Captain. He passed away on January 24, 2014. Launder was buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 65, site 3243. Lnenicka passed away on October 18, 1992. He is buried at Terrace Heights Memorial Park in Yakima, WA at section 81, block 99. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard H. Launder NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Irvin W. Lnenicka USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-24-DE Dauntless 41-15760 "USAAF version of SBD-3 / 15760 damaged in landing Aug 25, 1941, repaired. Lost in Java, condemned Nov 7, 1942" They Fought with What They Had (1951, 1992) by Walter Edmonds pages 394-395 (February 20, 1942 Launder), 523 (index Launder) (Page 394) "...Japanese shore batteries caught the plane [this aircraft] as it whipped over the narrow strip of land that joins Bali to the big peninsula called Tafel Hoek. Launder, who had pulled up a little saw an airfield [Denpasar Airfield] dead ahead which he took for a Dutch base; but as he started to let down on it, he saw the red suns [Hinomaru] on the white wings of a parked plane and went dizzily on across the land and ditched his plane in the sea about eight miles up the coast and 150 yards offshore, 'not too hard a crash,' though both men were bruised about the head." Operation Plumb (2008) by Adrian R. Martin pages 93, 135-136, 362 (index), 297 (Appendix I) College Campus in the Sky by Richard Launder pages 40-41 "I crossed over a beach, which for some damn reason, I took for Java. Up and over a little hill and there it was, salvation a beautiful airstrip." Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Richard H. Launder (grave photos) FindAGrave - Richard Henry Launder (Arlington National Cemetery) FindAGrave - Irvin Wesley “Sam” Lnenicka (Terrace Heights Memorial Park) Thanks to Edward Rogers 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 July 12, 2022 |
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