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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 5th AF 19th BG 30th BS |
Pilot Captain Robert L. Williams, O-023070 (MIA / KIA) SC Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Robert R. Wilson O-430646 (MIA / KIA) NJ Navigator 2nd Lt William A. Dietch, O-433137 (MIA / KIA) IL Bombardier 1st Lt Marion L. Wheeler, O-412742 (MIA / KIA) IA Radio Sgt William D. Lewis, 6914241 (MIA / KIA) IL Engineer S/Sgt Marion C. Taylor , 19054589 (MIA / KIA) MT Gunner Sgt Thomas L. Cotner, 6274735 (MIA / KIA) WY Gunner Sgt Glenn C. Keclik, 6932077 (MIA / KIA) KS Gunner Sgt Ernest L. Pugh, 6947173 (MIA / KIA) VA MIA September 15, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 3110. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17F-5-BO Flying Fortress serial number 41-24427. Ferried oversea via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On September 15, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby at 5:30pm for a night bombing mission against Rabaul. After take off, no further contact was made with this bomber. On September 16, 1942 at 1:30am, when this B-17 failed to return from the mission, it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on January 7, 1946. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. Dietch has a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery at section MJ site 84. Wheeler has a memorial marker at Sorden Cemetery in Webster, IA. Keclik has a memorial marker at Fort Scott National Cemetery at Fort Scott, KS at section Ma site 36 References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17F-5-BO Flying Fortress 41-24427 "24427 (19th BG, 30th BS) lost on mission Sep 15, 1942. Crew KIA" History 30th Bombardment Squadron Knudson Diary PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-24427 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert L. Williams American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert R. Wilson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William A. Dietch American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Marion L. Wheeler American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William D. Lewis American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Marion C. Taylor American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas L. Cotner American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Glenn C. Keclik American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ernest L. Pugh FindAGrave - William A Dietch (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Marion Lonner Wheeler (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Glenn Clifton Keclik (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Glenn Clifton Keclik (tablets of the missing photo) 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
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 B-17  MIA / KIA 9 Missing |
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