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| USAAF 5th AF 3rd BG 8th BS |
Pilot 2nd Lt Joseph C. Parker, O-429109 (WIA , KIA or executed July 30, 1942, BR) Des Moines County, IA Gunner Cpl Franklyn R. Hoppe, 11012172 (WIA, KIA or executed July 30, 1942, BR) New Haven County, CT Crashed July 29, 1942 MARC none Aircraft History Built by Douglas. Constructors Number unknown. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-24 Dauntless serial number 41-15??? (last three digits unknown). During late 1941 at Savannah, GA. On January 2, 1942 assigned to Project "X". On January 7, 1942 at McCellan Airfield. On January 8, 1942 disassembled then shipped to "Sumac" Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 8th Bombardment Squadron (8th BS). This aircraft had an unknown tail number (two digits). No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On July 29, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt Joseph C. Parker with gunner Cpl Franklyn R. Hoppe on a mission to dive bomb Japanese transports off Gona. The formation included eight A-24 Dive bombers escorted by P-39 Airacobras from the 41st Fighter Squadron flying top cover, and P-39 Airacobras from the 8th Fighter Group, 80th Fighter Squadron flying close escort. Inbound to the target, one A-24 aborted the mission, and the remaining seven A-24s proceeded to the north coast of New Guinea and spotted Japanese transported roughly twenty miles north of Gona roughly 1 1/4 miles offshore. The convoy was escorted by A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kōkūtai that intercepted the A-24s as they started their dives. The A-24s dive bombed in two waves. The first wave: A-24 41-15797 (shot down), A-24 piloted by Hill (heavily damaged and force lands at Fall River) and A-24 piloted by Raymond Wilkins (the only aircraft to return to 7 Mile). The second wave: A-24 41-15819, A-24 41-15766, A-24 pilot Cassels and A-24 piloted by Parker (this aircraft) all four were shot down. The Kotoku Maru, was hit once at the No. 5 hatch by the second wave, forcing its troops to unload and leave its cargo undelivered. The Japanese ships all return to Lae. This A-24 crash landed in the vicinity of Ambasi. Pilot Parker was injured in the leg, and gunner Hoppe wounded in the hands. Friendly native people led them to the Australian spotters in the vicinity. On July 30, 1942, a radio report was received from Ambasi stating that four aircrew were safe and that Japanese patrols were in the vicinity. The radio went off the air suddenly. and never came back on. Recovery of Remains After the Allies liberated the north coast of New Guinea, the remains of both crew were recovered. Afterwards, both were buried in New Guinea. Postwar, their remains were identified and transported to the Philippines and United States for permanent burial. Memorials Both crew were officially declared dead on July 30, 1942. Parker earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot L row 1 grave 95. Hooper earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 26, 1950 he was buried in a group burial at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery at section I, graves 109-110 with the remains of both 2nd Lt. Claude L. Dean and Sgt Allan W. La Rocque from A-24 41-15766. Relatives Are you a relative of Parker or Hopper? Contact Us Reference USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-24-DE Dauntless "USAAF version of SBD-3" NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Joseph C. Parker NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Franklyn R. Hoppe 3rd Bombardment Group, Headquarters reported a radio message from the survivors on July 30, 1942: "...[A-24 piloted by Parker] crash landed on the north coast of New Guinea near Ambasi due to interception. Radio report received advised that four [Dean, La Rocque, Parker and Hoppe] were safe and that Japanese patrols were in the vicinity. The radio went off the air suddenly, and never came on the air again." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph C. Parker FindAGrave - 2Lt Joseph C Parker (grave) FindAGrave - Franklyn R Hoppe (grave photo) Prisoner Base and Home Again (1957) page 34 "Sister Hayman suggested making a better pair of crutches for the American pilot, who had a nasty leg wound, and this took most of the afternoon. The other wounded man, a machine gunner, had splinters from a bursting 'pom-pom' in both hands but, apart from needing help in dressing and feeding, he was able to get along splendidly; he was a tall young cornstalk from Virginia..." PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - A-24 Dauntless piloted by Parker Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis 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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