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| USAAF 13th AF 11th BG 42nd BS  11th BG c1943 |
Pilot Captain Frank L. Houx, O-397398 (MIA / KIA) Sheridan, WY Co-pilot 2nd Lt. Martin L. Carper, Jr. O-728058 (MIA / KIA) IL Navigator 1st Lt. George H. Gammans, O-431827 (MIA / KIA) RI Bombardier 2nd Lt. La Verne P. Hite, O-663245 (MIA / KIA) NY Engineer S/Sgt Richard K. Wayne, 17001361 (MIA / KIA) MN Radio S/Sgt Ernest L. Koch, 13080124 (MIA / KIA) PA Engineer SSgt Leonard S. Knight, 15085192 (MIA / KIA) OH Gunner Sgt Ernest Sweigart, 13003115 (MIA / KIA) PA Radio Pfc Joseph A. Garvey, 31073147 (MIA / KIA) MA Crashed February 1, 1943 MACR 46482 Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2494. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-9122. Assigned to the 303rd Bombardment Group (303rd BG) based at Boise, ID. On April 21, 1942 transfered to Lowry Field. Wartime History On June 9, 1942 assigned to the 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 42nd Bombardment Squadron (42nd BS). Nicknamed "Eager Beavers". Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SoPAC). On December 16, 1942 at 6:45am took off from Bomber 1 Airfield on Espiritu Santo (Buttons) piloted by Captain Harold P. Hensley armed with twenty 100 pound fragmentation bombs as one of six B-17s on a bombing mission led by Captain Hall against Munda Airfield on New Georgia Island. Arriving over the target at 11:58am the formation spotted enemy Zeros but they did not initially intercept. After the bomb run, the formation was intercepted by twelve Japanese Zeros. Aboard this B-17, radio operator S/Sgt James C. Stephens, Jr. was wounded. Mission History On February 1, 1943 took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal piloted by Captain Frank L. Houx as one of nine B-17s on a bombing mission against shipping in the Shortland area. This bomber was part of a four plane second element with three B-17s from the 42nd BG (this aircraft, B-17E 41-9151 and B-17E "Yokohama Express" 41-2442) plus one B-17 piloted by Captain Thomas (5th BG, 72nd BS). The second element was commanded by Captain Hall (C. O. of the 42nd Bombardment Squadron). After scoring hits on this target, this B-17 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire near Shortland Harbor or southern Bougainville. The sole surviving fourth plane, piloted by a Captain Thomas was also badly damaged but managed to crash land on Guadalcanal. Two crew members (radio and bombardier) were wounded. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead January 11, 1946. Seven of the crew are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. Garvey and Gammans are memorialized at the courts of the missing, panel 7 at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Joseph A. Garvey USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E 41-9122 "9122 delivered to 303rd BG Boise Apr 21, 1942; transferred to Lowry Mar 21, 1942; assigned to 11th BG, 72nd BS Hawaii Jun 9, 1942 named (*Eager Beavers*); transferred to 13th AF Sep 1, 1942; WO Jun 15, 1944." Missing Air Crew Report 46482 (MACR 46482) created retroactively circa 1945-1946 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank L. Houx American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Martin L. Carper Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George H. Gammans American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - La Verne P. Hite American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard K. Wayne American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ernest L. Koch American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leonard S. Knight American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ernest Sweigart American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph A. Garvey FindAGrave - Capt Frank Lee Houx (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1Lt Martin L Carper, Jr (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt George H Gammans (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt La Verne P Hite (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Richard K Wayne (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Ernest L Koch (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Leonard S Knight (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Ernest Sweigart (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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