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| USAAF 11th BG 42nd BS  USAAF December 1941 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Ward Cox, Jr., O-392806 (KIA, BR) San Francisco, CA Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Charles O. Allan, Jr., O-367225 (KIA, BR) FL Bombardier 2nd Lt. James W. Bushee, O-430910 (KIA, BR) WI Crew SSgt Luther L. Perry, Jr., 6292999 (KIA, BR) TX Crew MSgt Jesse L. Schneider ,12025843 (KIA, BR) Atlanta, GA Crew SSgt Mathias E. Donart, 6568848 (KIA, BR) ID Crew SSgt Edward L. Hakes, 6667164 (KIA, BR) OH Crew SSgt Wilbur L. Gravitt, 6296816 (KIA, BR) TX Crew Cpl John F. Morris, 6999571 (KIA, BR) PA Crew Cpl John E. Muckey, 6981906 (KIA, BR) NY Crashed April 5, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Purchased by funds F-1, order number W-535 AC-15677 at a cost of $280,535.00. Constructors Number 2254. On December 3, 1941 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2443 at Boeing Field. The next day flown to McCord Field. During this period, photographed flying over Puget Sound with the Cascade Range and Mount Rainier in the distance. On December 18, 1941 flown to Hickam Field on Oahu. Wartime History Assigned to the 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 42nd Bombardment Squadron (42nd BS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On April 5, 1942 at 9:00pm took off from Hickam Field piloted by 1st Lt. Ward Cox, Jr. on a night patrol looking for a Japanese submarine that was reportedly refueling flying boats that dropped bombs on Mt. Tantalus on March 3, 1942. Returning from the mission with bombs aboard, this B-17 crashed into the cliffs of Mount Keahiakahoe near the Nu'uanu Pali on Oahu. A few hours earlier, PBY-5A Catalina 2487 crashed south of Makapu'u. Wreckage On April 7, 1942 the crash site was found and the bodies of the crew were recovered. In the early 1970s after a rain storm and flash flood, unexploded 500 pound bombs rolled down the ravine. During the middle 1990s, there were unconfirmed reports that some of the wreckage was dragged down from the crash site. Today, portions remain in situ on the mountainside, including the main landing gear, structural pieces and wreckage. Recovery of Remains After the crash, the bodies of the crew were recovered and identified. Five were buried in Hawaii and other returned to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. Cox is buried in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot B row 1 grave 205. Allan is buried in Callaway Cemetery in Callaway, FL. Bushee is buried in Rock Island National Cemetery at section D site 16. Perry is buried in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot N grave 191. He also has a memorial marker at Lee Cemetery Winnsboro, TX. Schneider is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at section G site 213. Donart is buried in Forest Cemetery in Coeur d'Alene, ID. Hakes is buried in Sugar Grove Cemetery in Wilmington, OH. Gravitt is buried in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot D grave 50, next to the grave of his brother U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) 1st Lt John C. Gravitt, 0-19349, I Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division Killed In Action (KIA) September 23, 1944 on Peleliu who earned the Navy Cross, posthumously at plot D Row 0 grave 72. Morris is buried in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot Q grave 1232. Muckey is buried in National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot C grave 230. On April 1, 2007, the Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society (HAPS) erected a granite memorial plaque at Pali Lookout. The dedication ceremony was performed by USAF personnel from Hickam AFB on the 65th anniversary of the crash on April 5, 2007 at 10:00am. Relatives During February 2007, two nephews of Donart visited the crash site with the help of Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society (HAPS). References Individual Aircraft Record Card (IARC) - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2443 USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2443 "2443 delivered to McCord Dec 4, 1941; transferred to 11BG 42BS at Hickam Field, HI Dec 15, 1941. Crashed into cliffs of Mount Keahiakahoe near the Nu'uanu Pali in Hawaii while returning from antisubmarine patrol Apr 5, 1942. All 11 on board killed." Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society: April 5, 1942 Star Bulletin "65 years after plane's crash, its crew will be remembered" April 4, 2007 KGMB "Hawaii's Military Remembers Fallen WWII Airmen" April 6, 2007 FindAGrave - 1LT Ward Cox Jr. (grave photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Charles Oran Allan, Jr (grave photo) FindAGrave - James W Bushee (grave photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Luther Lee Perry, Jr (grave photo, memorial photo) FindAGrave - Luther Lee Perry, Jr (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Jesse L Schneider (grave photo) FindAGrave - Mathias E Donart (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Edward L Hakes (grave photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Wilbert Lee Gravitt (grave photo) FindAGrave - Corp John Francis Morris (grave photo) FindAGrave - CPL John E Muckey (grave photo) 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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