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| USAAF 5th AF 19th BG 435th BS Former Assignments 7th BG 14th BS 19th BG 40th RS  USAAF c1942  Richard Rudd 1980 |
Pilot Major Clarence E. "Sandy" McPherson, O-22396 (KIA, BR) Sandpoint, ID Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Lucius G. Penick, O-413487 (KIA, BR) Engineer MSgt Louis T. "Soup" Silva, R-45343 (KIA, BR) Passenger SSgt Marvin C. Bond, 6912315 (KIA, BR) Passenger Sgt Walter F. Schofield, 6581360 (KIA, BR) Passenger MSgt Walter W. Weisner, 6754182 (KIA, BR) Passenger Sgt William C. Wood, 6914948 (KIA, BR) Passenger Sgt Charles B. Baxter (KIA, BR) Passenger Pvt Richard W. Purcell (KIA, BR) Passenger Sgt John Stevenson (KIA, BR) Passenger 1st Lt. Albert McCabe Hart, O-346934 104th AAA (KIA, BR) WY Passenger Pfc Rufus B. Humphries, 20467589, 20467589 (KIA, BR) Passenger Pvt Phillip R. Mills, 34102201, 34102201 HQ, 104th Coast Artillery Battalion (KIA, BR) AL Passenger Pvt Albert Washington Moore, 34102085 104th Coast Artillery Battalion (KIA, BR) Sylacauga, AL Passenger T/5 Atwell E. Moore, 20487595 (KIA, BR) AL Crashed July 16, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2232. On November 17, 1941 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2421 at Boeing Field. On November 26, 1942 took off from Boeing Field piloted by Lt. Maurice C. Horgan on a flight to Salt Lake City. Later, took off from Hamilton Field on a ferry flight to Hickam Field. Wartime History Assigned to the 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG), 14th Bombardment Squadron (14th BS). No known nickname or nose art. During January 1942, this B-17 operated from Hickam Field flying patrols around Hawaii. Ferried overseas from Hickam Field across the Pacific to Australia. Assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 40th Bombardment Squadron (40th BS). Royce Mission On April 11, 1942 took off from Batchelor Field near Darwin piloted by Lt. David G. Rawls with co-pilot Jones as one of three B-17s with nine B-25C Mitchells on the Royce Mission on a flight 1,500 miles northward to Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao in the Philippines. On April 12, 1942 the B-17s conduct single-bomber strikes against Cebu and Davao. On April 13, 1942 spotted by F1M2 Pete and bombed at Del Monte Airfield. Afterwards, the bombers were loaded with military and diplomatic personnel assembled at Del Monte Airfield. After dark, the remaining bombers took off from Mindanao for the flight back to Australia with the B-25s landing safely on April 14, 1942 at 3:00am at Batchelor Field near Darwin. On June 9, 1942 on a bombing mission, the top turret "ran away" rotating out of control and firing and caused damage to the tail and rudder. On June 19, 1942 took off from Longreach Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Gilbert E. Erb on a local flight to practice night landings. In the middle of June 1942, assigned to the 435th Bombardment Squadron (435th BS) "Kangaroo Squadron". Mission History On July 16, 1942 took off from Coen Airfield piloted by Major Clarence E. "Sandy" McPherson on a flight bound for Horn Island Airfield. Aboard were five U.S. Army passengers from the 104th Anti-aircraft Artillery AW Battalion plus a salvage crew and replacement parts including landing gear, propeller blades, brake assembly and tools to repair B-17E "Sally" 41-2633 that was damaged July 4, 1942. While attempting to land at Horn Island Airfield at dusk in windy conditions, this B-17 lined up on the wrong side of a flare path. Realizing the error, the bomber attempted to pull up but the cargo aboard was not properly stowed inside the fuselage shifted causing the bomber to enter a dive and crashed on Horn Island killing everyone aboard. Officially stricken off charge on October 31, 1944. Wreckage Until at least 1980, remains of this B-17 still remained on Horn Island (Ngurapai) including an undercarriage leg. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After the crash, the remains of the crew and passengers were all recovered and buried on Horn Island. Later, disinterred and reburied April 1, 1943 at the U.S. Cemetery at Townsville. On July 14, 1945 reburied at Ipswich Cemetery (USAF Cemetery Brisbane). Postwar, the remains of the crew were transported to the United States for final burial. On November 4, 1949 six of the crew are buried in a group burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 79 site 426A-B including McPherson, Penick, Schofield, Silva, Weisner and Wood. Baxter is buried at Knoxville National Cemetery at section B, site 6276. Purcell is buried at Plano Cemetery in Rexburg, ID. Stevenson is buried in an unknown location, presumed to be buried in private cemetery in his hometown. Two were buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). Hart is buried at at section F site 1189. He was the first U.S. Army Chaplain killed in World War II. Albert W. Moore at A-6. Humphries is buried at Ebenezer Cemetery in West Point, AL. Mills is buried at Patillo Cemetery in Autauga County, AL. He also has a memorial marker at Billingsley Church of God Cemetery in Billingsley, AL. Atwell Moore is buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Holland Gin, AL. References Some sources claim this B-17 was nicknamed "G. I. Issue" Steve Birdsall adds: "I've never seen evidence of the nickname 'G.I. Issue' for this B-17." USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2421 "2421 (19th BG, 40th BS) overshot and burned out Horn Island Jul 16, 1942. w/o Oct 31, 1944 and converted to components." Gilbert E. Erb Flight Log - July 1942 104th Anti-aircraft Artillery AW Battalion, Headquarters, July 16, 1942 "On July 16 the Battalion suffered its first casualties. Chaplain Albert M. Hart, T/5 Atwell E. Moore, Privates Albert W. Moore, Rufus B. Humphries, and Philip R. Mills were flying from Coen to Horn Island when the B-17 in which they were riding crashed while landing at Horn Island, killing all nineteen of the occupants instantly." FindAGrave - Clarence C. McPherson (photo, group burial photo) FindAGrave - Lucis G. Penick (photo, group burial photo) FindAGrave - Louis Thomas “Soup” Silva (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Marvin C Bond (group burial) FindAGrave - Walter Fred Schofield (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Walter W. Weisner (group burial photo) FindAGrave - William C. Wood (group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Charles B Baxter (date of death listed as August 21, 1942 grave photo) FindAGrave - Richard Wesley Purcell (date of death listed as July 14, 1942, grave photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Albert McCabe “Chaplain” Hart (grave photo) FindAGrave - PFC Rufus B Humphries (grave photo) FindAGrave - Phillip R Mills (grave photo) FindAGrave - PFC Phillip R Mills (grave Billingsley Church of God Cemetery) FindAGrave - Pvt Albert Washington Moore (grave photo) FindAGrave - Pvt Atwell E. Moore (grave photo) Forty of the Fifth (1999) page 21 Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 221, 384 Horn Island: In Their Steps 1939-45 (2002) pages 196-197 Echoes From an Eagle (2016) page 52 Australia @ War: 16 July 1942 - Crash of B-17E Flying Fortress at Horn Island Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 164–166 (Royce Mission) Thanks to Steve Birdsall 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 April 19, 2021
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