Pacific Wrecks

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

B-17E Flying Fortress Serial Number 41-2586

USAAF
11th AF
28th BG
36th BS

11th AF c1942

Pilot 1st. Lt. Major H. 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) 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) 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) OK
Crashed January 21, 1943
MACR ????

Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. Delivered to the U. S. Army.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 28th Bombardment Group, 36th Bombardment Squadron. No known nose art or nickname.

Wartime History
On January 21, 1943 this B-17 collided with B-17E 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. All are memorialized at the court of the missing at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl).

References
The Thousand- Mile War page 144-145, footnote referencing Steve Birdsall research

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Last Updated
February 14, 2020

B-17

MIA
15 Missing

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