1st Lt. Daniel W. Fagen
Pilot B-17E 41-2505 crashed April 25, 1942 onto Mount Obree

Background
Daniel White Fagen was born July 6, 1915 to parents Edmun L. Fagen and Gertrude Bluejacket Fagen in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Fagen was the great-great-great-grandson of Blue Jacket, the last War Chief of the Shawnee Indians in the Northwest Territory. His maternal grandparents were Willis George Bluejacket and Elizabeth Jane "Eliza" Blackfeather.

Wartime History
Fagen enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. Later, promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 9th Bombardment Squadron (9th BS).

During November 1941, Fagen piloted a B-17 Flying Fortress on a ferry flight from Hickam Field across the Pacific via Rabaul then onward to the Philippines. The ferry crew also included 2nd Lt Robert R. Meyer, Jr., 2nd Lt. Ralph Howard, Sgt Edward L. Hargrove and Sgt Elton J. Rose.

Mission History
On April 25, 1942 at 3:30am took off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloting B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2505 on a bombing mission against Rabaul. After take off, this bomber was heard circling Port Moresby then heading away. When this bomber failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). It was presumed lost over the Coral Sea. In fact, crashed at 4:46am into the southeastern upper slopes of Mount Obree killing the entire crew on impact.

Recovery of Remains
On July 5, 1986 a team from U.S. Army CILHI flew by helicopter to the helipad and trekked to the crash site with an eight man team, including Bruce Hoy from the National Museum and Art Gallery (NMAG) / PNG Museum. After establishing a camp, the team began clearing the site and mapping the locations of the various parts of the aircraft. By early afternoon, the first portions of remains had been located. Three days were spent in searching the area, during which the remains of four others were located.

On June 19, 1987 a second team from U.S. Army CILHI flew to the crash site and performed a recovery of the remains and located the rest of the crew when the cockpit section was found in the bed of a small stream. Many personal effects were also recovered, including wallets, a camera with spare lenses, knives from Mindanao, and the remains of wrist watches. No dog tags were found. The cockpit clock was stopped at 04:46, confirming the precise time of the crash. The team worked the crash site until July 12, 1987.

During 1990, the entire crew was officially identified by the Department of Defense (DoD). Three of the crew: Fagen, Hargrove and Reimer could not be individually identified.

Awards
Fagen earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Memorials
Fagen was officially declared dead April 26, 1943. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After the remains of the Fagen were recovered, a rosette was added next to his name.

On November 15, 1990 Fagen was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in a group burial at section 60 site 4072 with Hargrove and Reimer.

References
Pacific Wrecks - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2505
Arlington National Cemetery ANC Explorer - Daniel W. Fagen (group burial photo)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Daniel W. Fagen '"remains recovered"
FindAGrave - 1Lt Daniel White Fagen (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - 1LT Daniel White Fagen (group burial photo)
Bruce Hoy Diary October 31, 1987 (reference to coins recovered from 41-2505)
Paradise Magazine "Fortress on Mt. Obree" by Bruce Hoy via Wayback Machine June 21, 2006

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