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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 11th AF 28th BG 36th BS  11th AF c1942 |
Pilot Major Hugh McWilliams, O-425019 (MIA / KIA) MS Crew Captain Robert H. Bennington, O-474415 (MIA / KIA) OH Crew 2nd Lt. Bernard M. Dowd, O-725415 (MIA / KIA) Hamilton, OH Crew 2nd Lt. Richard M. Johnson, O-660758 (MIA / KIA) IA Crew 2nd Lt. William E. Osburn, O-789800 (MIA / KIA) IN Crew MSgt Henry E. Fretwell, 6545796 (MIA / KIA) CA Crew SSgt Samuel L. Herron, 6285858 (MIA / KIA) OK Crew SSgt John A. Reeves, 18008692 (MIA / KIA) Kingsville, TX Crew Cpl Clinton J. Chadsey, 11037989 (MIA / KIA) MA Crew Cpl Stanley E. Earls, 39083528 (MIA / KIA) CA Crew Cpl Harold Holcombe, 18044424 (MIA / KIA) AZ Crew Cpl Royal C. Kinsman, 36227890 (MIA / KIA) WI Crew Cpl Louis T. Madore, 39165970 (MIA / KIA) CA Crew Pvt Julian W. Meeks, 12033607 (MIA / KIA) GA Crew Pvt Thomas M. Wright, 20828515 (MIA / KIA) Okfuskee County, OK Crashed January 21, 1943 MACR 16209 Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2397. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2586. Wartime History Assigned to the 11th Air Force (11th AF), 28th Bombardment Group (28th BG), 36th Bombardment Squadron (36th BS). No known nose art or nickname. Wartime History On January 21, 1943 took off piloted by 1st. Lt. Major H. McWilliams on a mission. While flying between Umnak Island and Adak Island collided with B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9094 causing this bomber to crash into a mountain in the Aleutians. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. None of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously as the mission was deemed to be non-combat. All are memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the court of the missing, court 7. McWilliams earned the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal. He also has a memorial marker at Memphis National Cemetery at section MA, site 6. Bennington also has a memorial marker at Knollwood Cemetery at Mayfield Heights, OH in section 17. Dowd earned the Air Medal. He also has a memorial marker at Saint Mary Cemetery in Hamilton, OH. Osburn earned the Air Medal. Wright also has a memorial marker at Welty Cemetery in Welty, OK. References Note, some sources list the pilot McWilliams as "Mc Williams" (two words). USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2586 "2586 collided with 41-9094 and crashed into a mountain in the Aleutians Jan 21, 1943" Missing Air Crew Report 16209 (MACR 16209) created retroactively circa 1945-1946 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Major H. McWilliams American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert H. Bennington American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Bernard M. Dowd American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard M. Johnson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William E. Osburn American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Henry E. Fretwell American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Samuel L. Herron American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John A. Reeves American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Clinton J. Chadsey American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Stanley E. Earls American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold Holcombe American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Royal C. Kinsman American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Louis T. Madore American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Julian W. Meeks American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas M. Wright FindAGrave - 1Lt Major Hugh Mc Williams (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Major Hugh McWilliams (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Capt Robert H Bennington (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - CPT Robert Howard Bennington (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Bernard Michael Dowd (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Bernard M Dowd (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Richard M Johnson (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt William Edward “Bill” Osburn (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - MSgt Henry E Fretwell (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Samuel L Herron (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt John Albert “Johnnie” Reeves (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - CPL Clinton Joseph Chadsey (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Stanley E Earls (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Harold Holcombe (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Royal C. Kinsman (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Louis T Madore (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Pvt Thomas McClellan Wright (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - PVT Thomas McClellan Wright (memorial marker photo) The Thousand Mile War (1995) pages 144-145, footnote referencing Steve Birdsall research 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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