|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 317th TCG 46th TCS Former Assignments 19th BG 30th BS 7th BG  BottomleyDec 7, 1942    Ewing March 24, 1944  via Horn Island 1944  Kershaw 2000 |
Pilot Captain William Compton (WIA, survived) Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Donovan (survived) Crew 1st Lt. Paul Maaske (survived) Crew T/Sgt Paul Paddilla (survived) Crew S/Sgt J. C. Matthowa (WIA, died of wounds) Crew Cpl Julian Simmons (WIA, died of wounds) GA Crew 2nd Lt. Edward Scudero (survived) Crew T/Sgt Delbert Steinka (survived) Crew T/Sgt C. M. Porter (survived) Crew S/Sgt Charles Kreig (survived) Passenger T/Sgt Cecil Clarke (survived) Passenger Pfc Swain (survived) Passenger SSgt John Masiars (survived) Passenger TSgt T. Underwood (survived) Passenger Pfc James Colorusso (survived) Passenger Pte Daniel Pechman (survived) Passenger Pte Paul Graf (survived) Crashed March 24, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2308. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2497. On January 26, 1942 took off from MacDill Field and ferried overseas via the "African Route" to Java in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). Wartime History On February 17, 1942 assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS) in Java. Next, transfered to the 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG) then back to the 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS) and evacuated from in Java to Australia. During late 1942, assigned to the 317th Troop Carrier Group (317th TCG), 46th Troop Carrier Squadron (46th TCS). Nicknamed "Tojo's Nightmare". During November 1942, used to transport U.S. Army cargo including a disassembled 105mm howitzer, ammunition tractor and the eight man crew from Australia to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. After delivery, the cargo was divided between several C-47 Skytrains then flown to the Dobodura area to support the offensive against Buna. On December 7, 1942 photographed by Clifford Bottomley being unloaded at 7 Mile Drome. Mission History On March 24, 1944 took off piloted by Captain William Compton from New Guinea with American and Australian personnel aboard for furlough in Australia. During the approach to land at Horn Island Airfield, the nose began to rise unexpectedly that caused a stall and a quarter turn flat spin from 250' before impacting a mangrove swamp into roughly 4' of sea water near the edge of Horn Island. Rescue Immediately, Allied personnel on Horn Island rushed to the crash site. One of the first at the scene was U.S. Army Captain John D. Ewing with Australian Army personnel from 34 Heavy Anti Aircraft Battery (34 HAA) and the 157th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery (157th LAA) that rescue the crew. The rescuers cut a hole into the top of the bomber to allow the crew and passengers to escape. All but one person aboard sustained injuries and spent the night in the hospital. Fates of the Crew Two of the crew that were injured later died. Another aircraft transported the survivors to Garbutt Field near Townsville. Susan Ewing-Wolfe (daughter of John Donald Ewing) adds: "Aussies, my father and a few Americans, helped pull the survivors to safety. It was a transportation mission." Memorials Simmons was declared dead March 24, 1944 and was buried at Concord Cemetery in Long County, GA. Matthowa has an unknown burial in the United States, likely in his hometown in a private cemetery. Maaske passed away on February 1, 1986. He is buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery in Linn County, IA. Colorusso passed away in 1988. He is buried at Oak Grove Cemetery in Pawtucket, RI at section 1. Wreckage Remains of this bomber still remains on the island in the mangroves. In 1997, Australian members of the anti-aircraft units involved in the rescue revisited the island and crash site to pay tribute to those killed. References Other sources state this B-17 was nicknamed "MacMac" and assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group, likely confusion with B-17F "Tojo's Nite Mare / The Super Chief" 41-24357 assigned to the 54th Troop Carrier Wing (54th TCW). USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E 41-2497 Newspaper "Captain died in an Australian plane crash" c1944 Newspaper "Australians rescue crew of crashed Fortress" c1944 Newspaper "Capt. John Ewing Tells Some War Experiences" c1944 FindAGrave - Paul M Maaske (grave photo) FindAGrave - Julian T. Simmons (grave photo) FindAGrave - James Jerome Colorusso, Jr (grave photo) Flightpath Vol 10 No 4, pages 62-63 Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 134, 144, 386, 414 (footnote 12) Horn Island (2002) pages 199-200 Thanks to Richard Rudd and Susan Ewing-Wolfe 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
|
 B-17  Photo Archive  0-4' |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
