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| USAAF 13th AF 11th BG 26th BS |
Pilot Major Allan J. Sewart, O-022430 C. O. 26th BS (MIA / KIA) New Orleans, LA Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Jack Lee, O-433864 (KIA, BR) Alamogordo, NM Navigator Lt. Nelson Levi (WIA, survived) Shoshone County, ID Observer Colonel LaVerne "Blondie" G. Saunders, C.O. 11th BG (WIA, survived) Stratford, SD Ditched November 18, 1942 MACR 16407 Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 3216. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17F-20-BO Flying Fortress serial number 41-24531. Flown overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 26th Bombardment Squadron (26th BS). No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On November 18, 1942 in the early morning took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal piloted by Major Allan J. Sewart leading a bombing mission of ten B-17s against Japanese shipping at Tonolei Harbor on southern Bougainville. Aboard was observer Col. LaVerne "Blondie" G. Saunders. The eleventh bomber, B-17F "Aztec's Curse" 41-24457 took off late and flew the mission independently. The formation included four B-26 from 69th Bomb Squadron and were escorted by eight P-38 Lightnings from 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS) flying top cover. Inbound to the target, the main formation that split into two elements of five bombers each. This B-17 was leading the first element and arrived over the target area at 12,000' and were targeted by accurate and heavy anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters and floatplanes. On the first bomb run, the bombs failed to release and all five bombers went around for a second bomb run. Meanwhile, the second element led by Major Whitaker bombed a large transport and claimed direct hits and turned for home with the P-38 escorts intercepting the fighters. During the second bomb run, the formation was against targeted by anti-aircraft fire and intercepted by roughly fifteen fighters. Again, the bombs failed to release, but the other four bombed and claimed hits on ships then turned for home still and were attacked by fighters. Twice, this B-17 was attacked by fighters making head-on firing passes, concentrating on the nose. The attacks killed pilot Major Sewart and mortally wounded the co-pilot 1st Lt. Lee. Immediately, observer Colonel Saunders took the controls. Damaged during the attacks, the no. 2 engine was feathered and no. 1 engine was running away and smoking. The no. 2 fuel tank was on fire. The crippled bomber was protected by the other B-17s from the second element as it left the target area. This B-17 was able to fly on only two engines but lost altitude and ditched off Baga Island (Mbava) near Vella Lavella and broke into two pieces and quickly sank. Pilot Sewart was already dead and went down with the bomber when it sank. The rest of the crew successfully deployed their life rafts. Fates of the Crew By the time their rafts reached shore, Lee had died and was buried on the beach at Baga Island (Mbava). Meeting friendly natives in a canoe, the crew was unable to communicate with them and they departed. When they returned three hours later, they brought coastwatcher Jack Keenan. After dark, they were moved in canoes to Paramata village on Vella Lavella and were served a meal and rested in Silas Lezatuni's house. During the night, fellow coastwatcher Henry Josselyn came down to the village to relieve Keenan. Meanwhile, Methodist nurse Merle Farland was notified of the wounded crew at 3:30am the next day. She departed immediately across the island and reached Paramata village. When she arrived, she arrived to diagnosed the wounded crew members, just as the rescuing PBY was heard. Without time to render medical treatment, the crew prepared to be rescued. Rescue The crew were rescued by a U.S. Navy (USN) PBY Catalina pilot Lt. Charles Willis from Patrol Squadron 11 (VP-11) escorted by three F4F Wildcats. Later, Willis became an advisor to the President Eisenhower administration on aviation matters. Memorials Sewart and Lee were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Sewart earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with Oak Leaf Cluster, Silver Star, Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Jack Lee NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Nelson Levi USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17F-20-BO Flying Fortress 41-24531 Missing Air Crew Report 16407 (MACR 16407) was created retroactively and incorrectly notes the serial number as 41-21531 nor does it contain the complete crew list American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Allan J. Sewart FindAGrave - Maj Allan Jackson Sewart Jr. (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Jack Lee (grave photo) FindAGrave - BG Laverne George “Blondie” Saunders (photo, grave photo) Lonley Vigil (1977) pages 112-115 Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 294-297 (November 18, 1942), 392 (B-17F 41-24531) Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Units and Their Aces 1932-1945 (2011) page 391 (Yoshikazu Ohara 582 Ku KIA 11/18/42) Thanks to Richard Dunn and Jim Sawruk 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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