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| USAAF 5th AF 317th TCG 46th TCS Former Assignments 19th BG 374th TCG 21st TCS   41st FS June 1942  Keating June 1943  Daniel Leahy 2001 |
Pilot 1st Lt Vern J. Gidcumb, 317th TCG, 46th TCS (KIA, BR) IL Co-Pilot F/O William C. Erb, T-185524, 317th TCG, 46th TCS (KIA, BR) CA Navigator 2nd Lt. Jack A. Ogren (KIA, BR) Kelloggsville, OH Crew Chief SSgt Lovell Dale Curtis, 317th TCG, 46th TCS (KIA, BR) IL Crew Chief SSgt Frank E. Whelchel, 374th TCG, 22nd TCS (KIA, BR) GA Passenger Pfc Jerome Abraham, 34067460 49th FG, HQ (KIA, BR) FL Passenger Sgt Foye Kenneth Roberts (survived) Witchita Falls, TX Crew List Complete crew and passengers list (40 KIA, BR) Crashed June 14, 1943 MACR 15548 Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle as model 299H. Constructors Number 2073. Delivered to the the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) as B-17C Flying Fortress serial number 40-2072. Assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG) at March Field. On March 31, 1941 took off from March Field as one of twenty B-17s on a ferry flight to Hamilton Field. In the evening, the bombers departed for a 2,400 mile flight to Hickam Field on Oahu and arrived the next morning. This was the first mass flight of land base aircraft to make this trip and the first time that the U.S. Army had flown land-base aircraft to reinforce an overseas location. On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). In early September 1941 departs Hickam Field piloted by 1st Lt. Alvin H. Mueller as part of a B-17 formation across the Pacific bound for the Philippines. On September 5, 1941 lands at Midway Airfield to refuel. On September 9, 1941 lands at 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby in New Guinea to refuel. On September 10, 1941 lands at Batchelor Field near Darwin to refuel and were the first B-17 Flying Fortress bombers in Australia then departs on the last leg of the flight to the Philippines. At the time, this was the longest mass flight of land based aircraft in the world. On December 2, 1941 attached to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), part of the Far East Air Force (FEAF). Wartime History On December 8, 1941 parked at Clark Field on Luzon and survived the initial Japanese air raid against the airfield. Afterwards, was withdrawn to Del Monte Airfield and continued to fly bombing missions until December 23, 1941. On December 25, 1941 one of three B-17s took off from Del Monte Airfield at 4:30am piloted by Lt. Mueller armed with 300 pound bombs on a bombing mission against Davao. During take off, B-17D 40-3079 piloted by Lt. Smith blew a tire on take off and aborted the mission. This bomber along with B-17D 40-3062 proceeded to the target together. Over the target, ten enemy fighters were observed taking off from Davao Airfield to intercept them. Both B-17s climbed to 28,000' in hopes of climbing above their effective altitude, but were intercepted by the fighters. The other B-17 was hit in the engine, causing it to slow down and this B-17 also slowed to maintain formation and provide mutual fire support. Next, this B-17 was hit by machine gun and cannon fire. Aboard, two men in the radio room and the right waist gunner were wounded before the fighters broke off their attack. The B-17s descended to wave top height and successfully landed at Batchelor Field near Darwin. On the ground, more than 100 holes were noted on this bomber. During late December 1941, this B-17 was ordered to fly to Australia to evacuate twenty-eight American personnel from Del Monte Airfield southward to Batchelor Field near Darwin. Afterwards, flown to Laverton Airfield near Melbourne for repairs. On April 16, 1942 took off from Essendon Airfield piloted by Captain Slingasy with navigator 2nd Lt Frank Carroll on a flight via Sydney to Brisbane. On April 17, 1942 assigned to the 374th Troop Carrier Group (374th TCG), 21st Troop Carrier Squadron (21st TCS). Nicknamed "Pamela". On April 18, 1942 took off piloted by Captain Slingasy with navigator 2nd Lt Frank Carroll from Brisbane on a flight to Cloncurry Airfield. On April 19, 1942 took off from Cloncurry Airfield and flown to Batchelor Field. 2nd Lt Frank Carroll Log Sheet–Navigator hand written notation via Bruce Hoy "I flew with a lot of time in this B-17 - we named it E.M.F. (Every Morning Fixin) that just about describes this klunker but it could still fly and she flew well - some times on three motors - once we took off with only 3 of the four engines operating." Afterwards, this B-17 was based at Garbutt Field near Townsville flying via 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby on bombing missions over New Guinea. On November 15, 1942 this B-17 spotted two survivors from B-24D "Lady Beverly" 41-23760 in the sea near Baibara Island off the southern coast of New Guinea. On November 21, 1942 this B-17 transported a U.S. Army 105mm howitzer disassembled into pieces from Archerfield Airfield via Garbutt Field then Port Moresby. On December 7, 1942 took off from Port Moresby on a flight to Dobodura Airfield and was the first B-17 Flying Fortress to land at the new airfield. On December 24, 1942 while returning from a mission, this B-17 dove from 20,000' to 12,000'. When it pulled out of the dive, the wing flexed causing structural damage but landed safely in Australia. Afterwards, according to crew chief Del Sparrow, both wingtips were a foot higher than normal. Repairs were attempted but the damage was structural. Afterwards, assigned to the 317th Troop Carrier Group (317th TCG), 46th Troop Carrier Squadron (46th TCS). All armament, flooring and the bomb racks were removed for use as a transport based at Mackay Airfield. As a transport, nicknamed "E.M.F." (Every Morning Fixing) with Australian call sign VH-CBA. Along with an LB-30 Liberator registration VH-CBM and B-17E Flying Fortress VH-CBC also being used as transports to fly Allied servicemen and supplies from Mackay Airfield back to 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby or vice-versa, a 4.5 hour flight. These flights were described by a number of veterans including Teddy Hanks and Robert Foye both from Witchita Falls, Texas and Del Sparrow of Sonoma, CA as packing the troops in the B-17C like sardines in a can. When the aircraft took off the passenger had to try and inch forward so that the B-17 was not tail heavy during takeoff. Passengers did not mind the inconvenience of sitting on the floor without seat belts, because these aircraft were taking them to rest and recuperation in Australia. When lost, engine serial numbers unknown. Mission History On June 14, 1943 took off from Mackay Airfield piloted by 1st Lt Vern J. Gidcumb. Aboard was five other crew members plus thrifty-five passengers for a total of forty-one crew and passengers aboard. Prior to the flight, he had flipped a coin with crew chief Sgt Del Sparrow of Sonoma, CA to determine who would fly. A few minutes after take-off, it crashed at Bakers Creek killing forty aboard. Only Sgt Robert Foye survived the crash. The crash was the single worst aviation disaster of World War II in Australia and Australian aviation history. The verbal account of the crash, and eyewitnesses statements were recorded in the diary of Captain Cutler, the Red Cross commander in Mackay who keep a manifest of the aircraft and the accident. His son, Robert Cutler has his father's diary and wrote the book "Mackay's Flying Fortress: Remembering Australia's Worst Aviation Disaster in World War Two". At the time of the accident wartime security in Australia meant that everything about this crash was classified. The seriousness of the accident and bad publicity that might result if disclosed saw that nothing was released about the crash. In the early 1990s, Australian police report related to the crash was declassified and accessed by the Mackay RSL but the USAAF/USAF classified report has never been located. Australian Colin Benson, RSL historian researched the names and burials of the forty killed in the crash over eight years with the help of Teddy Hanks searching for a number of years to get all the names. Recovery of Remains Afterwards, the forty killed in the crash were recovered from the crash site. The forty bodies were initially buried in Townsville. After the war, their remains were transported to Hawaii and the United States for permanent burial. Memorials Thirteen of the crew and passengers are buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) including Curtis at section E grave 517, Smith at section C grave 735. The rest were were buried in their home towns. List of crew & passengers including burial sites. Ogren is buried at Monroe Township Kelloggsville Cemetery in Kelloggsville, Ohio at section 13, lot 15, grave 6. A memorial to the crew and passengers was built near the crash site outside Mackay, due to the efforts of the Mackay RSL and Robert Cutler. The memorial flies the American and Australian flag over the site. On special occasions, twenty state flags that represent the states of those who died are also flown. Sole survivor Roberts passed away September 24, 2004. He is buried at Maine Mount Vernon Road Veterans Memorial Cemetery. References Note, some sources list the nickname as "Miss E.M.F." but was infact only "E.M.F." USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17C Flying Fortress 40-2072 "2072 (19th BG) heavily damaged on Davao mission Dec 25, 1941 and converted into transport. With 46th Troop Carrier Squadron, 317th Transport Group, crashed Bakers Creek, Queensland, Australia, June 14, 1943 while ferrying troops to New Guinea. Six crew and 34 GIs killed. One survived." 2nd Lt Frank Carroll Log Sheet–Navigator April 17, 1942 Essenden to Batchelor (April 16-19, 1942) via Bruce Hoy 2nd Lt Frank Carroll Log Sheet–Navigator hand written notation via Bruce Hoy "I flew with a lot of time in this B-17 - we named it E.M.F. (Every Morning Fixin) that just about describes this klunker but it could still fly and she flew well - some times on three motors - once we took off with only 3 of the four engines operating." Missing Air Crew Report 15548 (MACR 15548) was created retroactively during 1945 or 1946 Special Order #1, Air Echelon, Headquarters 19th Bomb Group(H) AFCC, Albuquerque, NM, list the crew that ferried the B-17 to the Philippines during October 1941 as (pilot) 1st Lt. Alvin H. Mueller, 2nd Lt. James E Colovin, 2nd Lt George M. Markovich, Sgt. Robert W. Schlotte, S/Sgt Adolph Doucet, S/Sgt Clyde W. Anderson, Sgt. Lewis D. Wise, Sgt. John D. Biff, Pfc. George J. McGee Records at USAF Maxwell Historical incorrectly state this aircraft crashed on June 17, 1943. The Australian Police made a full report on the accident. A photo of B-17C 40-2072 has the following caption: "Seems as if they used the star for a target. this ship is still flying August 21, 1942. It sunk 2 loaded transports, one destroyer, one sub from 20,000 feet with one bomb, and has shot down 21 planes including a 4-engined flying boat. It has bombed landing parties and enemy occupied airdromes in the PI. It got 2 direct hits from 3" AA and had over 1000 machine gun holes in it. It was always flown by the same crew. It never had a man killed aboard it, and only 3 slightly hurt. It evacuated 28 pilots from Del Monte at night in a tropical storm and flew to Australia." It Happened at Bakers Creek, Australia: A History of the Fifth Air Force's Worst Air Crash in World War II. (Hickam AFB, Hawaii: PACAF/HO, 2003) Robert S. Cutler Maps, Photographs, Notes, Bibliography, Appendices. Pages. xii, 84. Paperback "Over and Out!": Sam's Story The Private War Diary of Captain Samuel Cutler, Army Air Corps US Forces in Australia, 1942-1944 editor: Robert S. Cutler (Xlibris 2011) 250 pages with photos Mackay's Flying Fortress: Remembering Australia's Worst Aviation Disaster in World War Two by Robert S. Cutler After The Battle Issue 153 "Australia's Worst Air Disaster" by David Mitchelhill-Green The Forgotten B-17C 40-2072 "Miss EMF(Every Morning Fixing) by Eugene D. Rossel Oz@War - Crash of B-17C Flying Fortress at Bakers Creek Near Mackay, QLD 14 June 1943 Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 83-84, 87, 143, 225, 382 FindAGrave - Lieut Vernon J. Gidcumb, Jr (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - William Cranston Erb (grave photo) FindAGrave - Lovell D Curtis (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Jack A. Ogren (photos, grave photos, memorial photos) FindAGrave - PFC Jerome Abraham (grave photo, memorial photos) FindAGrave - John O Berthold (grave photo, memorial photos) FindAGrave - Foye Kenneth Roberts (photos, obituary, grave photos, memorial photos) Thanks to Bruce Hoy, William H. Bartsch and 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
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