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B-17E Flying Fortress Serial Number 41-2435

USAAF
5th AF
19th BG
28th BS

USAAF Feb 23, 1942

Pilot 1st Lt William H. Watson, O-416941 (MIA / KIA) IL
Co-Pilot 1st Lt John F. Putman, O-413546 (MIA / KIA) CA
Navigator 1st Lt James O. Etter, O-434209 (MIA / KIA) OK
Bombardier SSgt Robert A. Abadie, 6296091 (MIA / KIA) TX
Engineer T/Sgt Eugene M. Clemens, 6564203 (MIA / KIA) SD
Crew Sgt Leo T. Ranta, 6578753 (survived) Marysville, CA
Crew Sgt Robert V. Copley, 6999315 (MIA / KIA) PA
Gunner Cpl Philip A. Deal, 6915668 (MIA / KIA) IN
Gunner Sgt William H. Parker, 6581531 (MIA / KIA) WA
Crashed August 2, 1942 at 9:30am
MACR none

Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. On December 1, 1941 delivered to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E 41-2435 and flown by Harry Spieth from Boeing Field. Assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group, 28th Bombardment Squadron. No known nose art or nickname.

Wartime History
During January 1942, this bomber operated from Hickam Field and flew patrol missions over Pacific Ocean. On January 16, 1942 the bomber claimed to locate, bomb and sink a Japanese submarine. Next, this B-17 flown from Hickam Field acorss the Pacific to Australia. Possibly participted in the February 22-23, 1942 bombing mission over Rabaul, the first American bombing mission in the South Pacific.

On March 12, 1942 this B-17 took off from Horn Island Airfield piloted by Horgan and Fields on a mission against Salamaua. Afterwards landed at 7-Mile Drome and overnighted there.

On March 13, 1942 took off 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby on a mission against Rabaul piloted by Major William Lewis, Jr. and co-pilot 1st Lt Jack L Carlson with a crew consisted of five men from the 435th Bomb Squadron and six from another unknown unit. The other three aircraft returned direct to Townsville due to engine trouble. Over the target, this B-17 successfully attacked Lakunai Airfield claiming several aircraft on the ground destroyed. Returning, this B-17 encountered A6M2 Zeros returning from a strafing attack on 7-Mile Drome. Top turret gunner M/Sgt Carl G. Johansson claimed an A6M2 Zero [none were lost] fifteen miles north of Port Moresby, then landed safely landed at 7-Mile Drome.

On April 18, 1942, made an emergency landing adjacent to RAAF Sandgate Airfield at 5:45pm . The B-17 landed on reclaimed land to the north north between the base and the start of the Hornibrook Highway.

On July 27, 1942 one of nine B-17s that participated in a bombing mission against Buna

Mission History
On August 2, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Watson as part of a flight of B-17s searching for a convoy near Buna. On this mission, this B-17 was assigned to the 30th Bomb Squadron, but flown by an air crew from the 28th Bombardment Squadron for this mission.

At 9:15am, intercepted by A6M2 Zeros and shot down. This B-17 crashed into the sea off Cape Ward Hunt on the other side of Mitre Rock, roughly two to three miles out to sea at approximately at 9:30am. At least five of the crew managed to bail out including Ranta and Abadie.

Fates of the Crew
Ranta was the first one to bail out, and on landing in the sea observed five other parachutes. He attempted to aid Abadie but lost him in the rough sea. Ranta made it ashore on the north coast of New Guinea, and went up and down the beach searching for the rest of the crew but failed to find any of them.

After meeting native people who were friendly he was taken to Anglican missionary Romney Gill at Duvira then to Gill's hideout known as "X1". Later, he was joined by the crew of B-26 "Dixie" 40-1496. Together the group walked to Garaina Airfield to await rescue. On September 3, 1942 they were flown out aboard a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Hudson back to Port Moresby.

Memorials
With the exception of survivor Ranta, the entire crew was officially declared dead on January 7, 1946. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

Three of the crew have memorial markers in their hometown cemeteries:
Etter has a memorial marker at IOOF Cemetery in Norman, OK.
Clemens has a memorial marker at ZCBJ Cemetery in Wagner, SD.
Deal has a memorial marker at Highland Lawn Cemetery in Terre Haute, IN at section 2

Sole survivor Ranta died on March 9, 1974. He is buried at Sutter Cemetery in Sutter, CA at plot G-162-1.

Relatives
Susan Abadie (daughter in law of Robert A. Abadie):
"My husband’s father was shot down on August 2, 1942 on B-17 serial number 41-2435 in search of a convoy near Buna. He was Robert Alen Abadie 6296091 and he was the bombardier. I have his Air Log for that plane and time and a letter to Betty Abadie from one of the crew in one of the other planes. It tell her what he saw and what happened."

References
Diaries of S. R. M. Gill 1942 [extracts] page 305
"He is Leo Rauta [sic], of Sacramento District, town Marysville, one of nine men, the crew of a F. F. [Flying Fortress] which was shot down somewhere on the other side of Mitre Rock about 9.30am last Sunday. He thinks three died in the plane which was attacked by six Zeros (their plane was at the tail end of F.F.) and knows that the other five bailed out, he saw their ‘chutes coming down after he himself reached the water. One came down near him, Sgt Abadie, and seemed to be in difficulties and sick. Leo helped him until they got separated by the sea."
NARA - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 - Leo Theodore Ranta
FindAGrave - Leo Theodore Ranta
FindAGrave - 1Lt William H Watson
FindAGrave - 1Lt John F Putman
FindAGrave - James O Etter (memorial marker photos)
FindAGrave - SSgt Robert Alan Abadie (photos)
FindAGrave - Eugene M. Clemens
FindAGrave - Philip A Deal (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt William H Parker
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2435
Bruce Hoy adds: "[March 13, 1942] Horgan was one of those who returned, so Horgan and Lewis must have switched aircraft, or someone has made a clerical error in identifying the relevant B-17."
Thanks to Bruce Hoy and Edward Rogers for additional information

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Last Updated
February 14, 2020

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