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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 64th BS Former Assignments 19th BG 30th BS  USAAF 1943 |
Pilot Captain Charles N. McArthur, O-398637 interim C.O. 64th BS (MIA / KIA) Fayetteville, NC Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. La Rue Haralson, O-661209 (MIA / KIA) TX Engineer SSgt Joseph C. Whitelaw, 16028506 (MIA / KIA) NY Asst. Engineer Cpl Robert R. Greenwood, 17014588 (MIA / KIA) AR Passenger Pvt William N. Phillips, 33053325 (MIA / KIA) Delaware County, PA Passenger Pvt Brony C. Wysocki, 11030519 (MIA / KIA) MA Radio Cpl George N. Neuman, 17026370 (MIA / KIA) Duluth, MN Crashed April 17, 1943 MACR 16387 Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 3108. On June 29, 1942 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17F Flying Fortress serial number 41-24425. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History On August 21, 1942 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS). No known nickname or nose art. During November 1942 assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On April 17, 1943 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Captain Charles N. McArthur interim Commanding Officer (C.O.) 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS) with an ad hoc crew on a training flight and to swing the bomber's compass. While flying in close formation in the vicinity of Hood Point over the sea, this bomber crossed over the formation and experienced a sudden down draft that caused its propellers to collide with B-17F "Dinah Might ?" 41-24355 damaging its tail. After the collision, the engines on this B-17 caught fire and the nose dropped and dove from 1,500' the nose dropped and dove from 1,500' and crashed into the sea and broke up on impact. When this B-17 failed to return, the entire crew was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Although B-17F "Dinah Might ?" 41-24355 sustained tail damage, it managed to land safely at 7 Mile Drome. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. As the flight was non-combat, none of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. McArthur previously earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). He also has a memorial marker at Cross Creek Cemetery #2 in Fayetteville, NC. Haralson previously earned the Air Medal. Whitelaw previously earned the Air Medal. Promoted to the rank of Technical Sergeant, posthumously Greenwood was promoted to the rank of Sergeant, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Lewis Cemetery at Hickory Ridge, AR. Neuman previously earned the Silver Star. Promoted to the rank of Sergeant, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Joseph C. Whitelaw NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert R. Greenwood NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William N. Phillips NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Brony C. Wysocki NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George N. Neuman USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17F-5-BO Flying Fortress 41-24425 "24425 (19th BG, 30th BS) transferred to 64th BS, 43re BG Oct 1942. Crashed into sea off Port Moresby, PNG during test flight Apr 17, 1943. All crew KIA." Diary of Gordon R. Manuel "Two days later [April 17, 1943] Capt. McArthur my old pilot was killed with his whole crew on a test flight. The moral of the sqdn [64th BS] is almost nil." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles N. McArthur Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - La Rue Haralson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph C. Whitelaw American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert R. Greenwood American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William N. Phillips American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Brony C. Wysocki American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George N. Neuman FindAGrave - Capt Charles Neill McArthur, Jr (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Capt Charles Neill McArthur, Jr (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt La Rue Haralson (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Joseph C Whitelaw (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Robert R Greenwood (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Robert R Greenwood (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Pvt William N Phillips (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Pvt Brony C Wysocki (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt George N Neuman (photo, tablets of the missing) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-24425 Pride of Seattle (1998) page 8 Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 357 (April 17, 1943), 391 Ken's Men Against The Empire Volume I (2016) pages 174 (April 17, 1943, crew photo), 315-316 (April 17, 1943 41-24425), 327 (64th BS, 41-24425), 395 (index Kaplan), 386 (index Bird), 397 (index McArthur, Capt. Charles N., Jr.), 403 (index Singer, Bill) 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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