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| USAAF 5th AF 7th BG Former Assignments 19th BG 30th BS |
Pilot Captain Hank Godman (survived) Ditched March 12, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2318. This was the 115th E model built and the third with a Sperry ball turret. On January 14, 1942 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2507. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS). No known nose art or nickname. During early 1942, flown by Captain Robert L. Williams from MacDill Airfield overseas via the "Africa Route bound for the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). On February 19, 1942 arriving over Java with B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2500, the pair spotted a formation of Japanese bombers returning from a mission and engaged, claiming one shot down but B-17E 41-2500 was damaged but both reached Bandoeng Airfield on western Java. On February 20, 1942 Williams flew his bomber to Singosari Airfield on eastern Java. At the conclusion of the Java campaign, this bomber was flown to Batchelor Field near Darwin in Australia. Next, assigned to the 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG). Mission History On March 12, 1942 took off piloted by Captain Hank Godman on a flight bound for Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao to evacuate General Douglas MacArthur. Inbound, ditched off Iligan Bay off Mindanao. Fates of the Crew Afterwards, the crew was rescued and two days later returned to Australia. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2507 "2507 delivered Jan 14, 1942, Assigned 19th BG 30th BS Java Feb 20, 1942, then to 7th BG. Used in first MacArthur rescue. Force landed in sea off Del Monte Mar 23, 1942. The 5th Bomber Command Journal reports that it crashed Mar 12, 1942 [Capt Godman was back in Australia by 17Mar42]. Location recorded as Illigan, Mindanao." Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 136 (February 19-20, 1942), 162 (March 12, 1942) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated June 19, 2025
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