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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 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Albert J. Wilsey, Jr., O-411749 (MIA / KIA) WI Co-Pilot 1st Lt Raymond L. Adair, O-431834 (MIA / KIA) CA Crew Lt Charles H. Cooper, O-426871 (MIA / KIA) SC Crew Lt John W. Sheppard, O-727121 (MIA / KIA) TX Crew Cpl Paul N. Lyden, 16034351 (MIA / KIA) IL Crew Pvt Charles M. Kantner, 13028937 (MIA / KIA) PA Crew Pvt Rudolph S. Olesnevich, 16022524 (MIA / KIA) MI Crew Pvt Harold N. Knutson, 39092195 (MIA / KIA) OR Crew Pvt Donald W. Brown, 17034137 (MIA / KIA) IL MIA August 28, 1942 MACR 15932 Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2618. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress Serial Number 41-9146. On May 1, 1942 flown to Geiger Field then northward to Alaska. 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. On June 6, 1942 transferred to Umnak Airfield (Fort Glenn Army Airfield). Mission History On August 28, 1942 took off from Umnak Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Albert J. Wilsey, Jr. as one of three B-17s led by Colonel William O. Eareckson on a bombing mission against Kiska Island that departed behind schedule. Returning the flight, this bomber was last seen by flying formation with Col Eareckson, then disappeared during a turn in the darkness and rain storm. A radio transmission was heard from this B-17 stating the plane had an hour of fuel left, and was never seen again. When this aircraft failed to return the entire crew were listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the court of the missing. Wilsey on court 5. Adair, Sheppard, Lyden, Kantner, Olesnevich, Knutson and Brown on court 7. Wilsey earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is also memorialized on the Memorial To The Missing in Anchorage. Adair earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Cooper earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Sheppard earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Lyden earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Kantner earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Olesnevich earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Knutson earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Brown earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. References Individual Aircraft Record Card (IARC) - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9146 lists as condemned July 18, 1942, possibly the loss of B-17E 41-9126 and B-17E 41-9146 have been confused or switched accidentally due to the similarity of their serial numbers. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9146 "9146 delivered to 301st BG, Geiger May 1, 1942; assigned to 11th AF at Bronze Jun 6, 1942; transferred to Fort Glen, Alaska Jun 19, 1942. W/O at Umnak Jul 18, 1942." Other sources list this crew as lost aboard B-17B Flying Fortress 38-215 [sic] 36th Bomb Squadron History, page 13 The Thousand-Mile War pages 144-145, footnote referencing Steve Birdsall research Aleutian Campaign, Part III: June 1942-August 1943. Draft Chronology Compiled by John Haile Cloe page 121-122 (via ArmyAirForces Forum) "28 Aug 1942 (Fri) MIA: Colonel William O. Eareckson led three B-17Es from the 36th Bombardment Squadron on bombing mission against Kiska. The flight, late in taking off, ran into darkness and rain during the return flight. The first B-17 landed at Cape Field in heavy rain followed by Colonel Eareckson 30 minutes later. The third bomber, 41-9146, flown by Lt Albert J. Wilsey, who had been flying formation with Colonel Eareckson disappeared during a turn in the darkness. Lieutenant Wilsey and his copilot apparently became disorientated and flew off in another direction. The last radio transmission heard from him was that he had an hour of fuel left. In addition to Lt Wilsey, those lost included Lt Raymond L. Adair, Lt Charles H. Cooper, Lt John W. Sheppard, Cpl Paul W. Lyden, Pvt Charles W. Fantner, Pvt Rudoph S. Olesnsevich, Pvt Harold N. Knutson and Pvt Donald W. Brown. (Hist, 36th Bomb Sq, p. 13; Wheeler Diary, Carter and Mueller, Combat Chronology, World War II, p. 35.) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Albert J. Wilsey, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Raymond L. Adair American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles H. Cooper American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John W. Sheppard, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Paul N. Lyden American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles M. Kantner American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Rudolph S. Olesnevich American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold N. Knutson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald W. Brown FindAGrave - 1LT Albert James Wilsey Jr. (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Albert James Wilsey Jr. (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Raymond L Adair (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Charles Herbert Cooper (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt John W Sheppard Jr. (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Paul N Lyden (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Charles M. Kantner (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Rudolph S. Olesnevich (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Pvt Harold N Knutson (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Pvt Donald W Brown (courts of the missing photo) 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  MIA 9 Missing |
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