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| USAAF 13th AF 5th BG 31st BS Former Assignment 11th BG 98th BS   USAAF c1942  USAAF c1942   USN c1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Richard A. Snoddy, O-725217 (MIA / KIA) Straford, OK Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Frank D. Sprague, O-725219 (MIA / KIA) De Moines, IA Bombardier TSgt Lawrence O. Habermehl, 6581281 (MIA / KIA) Salt Lake City, UT Navigator SSgt Ernest N. Bowser, O-797255 (MIA / KIA) Washington County, MD Engineer TSgt J. H. Swanner, 14037725 (MIA / KIA) Knoxville, TN Asst Engineer SSgt Lawrence E. Hill, 19053554 (MIA / KIA) Shreveport, LA Radio MSgt Carl M. Mosher, 6916132 (MIA / KIA) Traverse City, MI Asst Radio Sgt Clifford M. Wolff, 18007047 (MIA / KIA) West Englewood, NJ Gunner SSgt Frederick H. Swonsey, 39165588 (MIA / KIA) South Gate, CA MIA June 9, 1943 at 7:10pm MACR 799 Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2336. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2525. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 98th Bombardment Squadron (98th BS). Nicknamed "Madame-X" with three lines on each side of the name with a hypen on the right side of the nose. Above was as scoreboard with eight bombs indicating bombing missions flown and four Japanese rising sun flags indicating aerial victory claims. Also the silhouette of a warship claimed and a star with "Midway" below for missions flown during the Battle of Midway. This B-17 was flown from Hickam Field piloted by 1st Lt. Richard A. Snoddy with an extra bomb bay fuel tank to Midway Airfield on Eastern Island and participated in the Battle of Midway. Later, transfered to the 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG), 31st Bombardment Squadron (31st BS). Afterwards, flown across the Pacific Ocean to Bomber 1 on Espiritu Santo. This bomber flew at least eight bombing missions, claimed three fighters and a ship. When lost, engine R-1820-65 serial numbers 41-24891, 41-24890, 41-24592 and 41-23868. Weapon serial numbers not noted in Missing Air Crew Report 799 (MACR 799). Mission History On June 9, 1943 took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt. Richard A. Snoddy on a night bombing mission against Kahilli Airfield (Buin Airfield) on Bougainville. Over the target area at dusk, the last radio contact was at 7:10pm. When this B-17 failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search The next day, three B-17s from the31st Bombardment Squadron (31st BS) led by Captain Carroll searched for this bomber unsuccessfully. Several US Navy planes also conducted searches without results. On June 12, 1943 two B-17s led by Captain Roberts conducted another search without results. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on December 19, 1945. The crew (with the exception of Bowser) are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Snoddy earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. Sprague earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Sacramento Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Sacramento, CA. Habermehl earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Bowser earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 7. He also has a memorial marker at River View Cemetery at Williamsport, MD. Swanner earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville, TN. Hill earned Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. Mosher earned the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Ogdensburg Cemetery at Mapleton, MI. Wolff earned Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Swonsey earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. References Previously, pilot 1st Lt. Richard A. Snoddy flew missions during the Battle of Midway. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2525 Missing Air Crew Report 799 (MACR 799) incorrectly states the date of loss as June 10, 1943 Fortress Against The Sun page 386 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard A. Snoddy American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank D. Sprague American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lawrence O. Habermehl American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ernest N. Bowser American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - J. H. Swanner American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lawrence E. Hill American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Carl M. Mosher American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Clifford M. Wolff American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frederick H. Swonsey FindAGrave - 1Lt Richard A. Snoddy (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1Lt Frank D. Sprague (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Frank D. Sprague (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Lawrence O. Habermehl (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2Lt Ernest N Bowser (courts of the missing photo, date of death listed as June 10, 1943 [sic]) FindAGrave - Ernest N Bowser (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt J. Harold Swanner (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Jacob Swanner (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Lawrence E. Hill (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Carl M Mosher (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - MSgt Carl M. Mosher (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Clifford Martin Wolff (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Clifford Martin Wolff (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Frederick W. Swonsey (tablets of the missing photo) Thanks to Steve Birdsall 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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 B-17  Photo Archive  MIA 9 Missing |
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