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| USAAF 5th AF 27th BG 91st BS
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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). No known nickname or nose art. On August 25, 1941 this A-24 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. Damaged, Launder almost landed at an airfield occupied by the Japanese before realizing his error, aborting the landing and returning to eastern Java and landed safely. Afterwards, the fate of this aircraft is unknown and was likely abandoned on Java. On November 7, 1942 officially condemned. Memorials Launder continued in the U. S. Air Force (USAF) and retired with the rank of Captain. He passed away on January 24, 2014 and 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 by Walter Edmonds Operation Plumb 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." FindAGrave - Richard Henry Launder (Arlington National Cemetery) FindAGrave - Irvin Wesley “Sam” Lnenicka (Terrace Heights Memorial Park) Contribute
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