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| USAAF 13th AF 5th BG 23rd BS Former Assignments 11th BG 431st BS  11th BG c1942  11th BG c1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Rex A. Eckles, O-725136 (MIA / KIA) Porterville, CA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. David C. Jones, O-677516 (MIA / KIA) Dallas, TX Navigator 2nd Lt. William H. Fox, O-797301 (MIA / KIA) Wayne County, NY Bombardier 2nd Lt. Richard H. Knop, O-735878 (MIA / KIA) Rochester, NY Engineer Sgt Herbert J. Kelly, 6931788 (MIA / KIA) Detroit, MI Asst Engineer SSgt Raymond H. Greene, 06980165 (MIA / KIA) South Hempstead, NY Radio Sgt Charles D. Savedge, 13016224 (MIA / KIA) VA Asst Radio Cpl William T. Davis, 15070934 (MIA / KIA) Cleveland, OH Tail Gunner Cpl Edmund O. Hill, 6981117 (MIA / KIA) Bronx, NY Passenger Sgt Paul L. Hensley, 6894195 (MIA / KIA) WV MIA July 19, 1943 at 2:30am MACR 87 Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2625. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-9153. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 431st Bombardment Squadron (431st BS). Nicknamed "Tokyo Taxi" on both sides of the nose. On the left side of the nose were two Japanese rising sun flags indicating aerial victory claims claimed by gunners. During November 1942 assigned to the 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG), 23rd Bombardment Squadron (23rd BS). When lost, engines R-1820-65 serial numbers 41-24230, 41-23163, 41-22821 and 41-24194. Armed with twelve .50 caliber machine guns in all other gun positions makers and serial numbers unknown with three in the nose, two top turret, radio, two in ball turret, left waist, right waist and two tail. Also armed with a single .30 caliber machine guns in the nose maker and serial number unknown. Mission History On July 19, 1943 after midnight took off from Carney Field on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt. Rex A. Eckles as one of nine B-17s on a night bombing mission against Kahili Airfield (Buin) on Bougainville. Over the target, this B-17 took the lead position, and was targeted by searchlights on the ground and shot down by a Japanese night fighter. Last seen by Captain Sabin at 2:30am 8-10 miles north of Kahili Airfield. Captain Anthony Dean Lucas aboard B-17E "Li'll Nell" 41-9222 observed this bomber shot down in flames. This B-17 was due back at base by 6:00am, with a maximum endurance of 9:00am. When it failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Diary of Captain Anthony Dean Lucas July 19, 1943 who was pilot of B-17E "Li'll Nell" 41-9222: "July 19, 1943: Nine ships of our squadron took off around midnight to bomb Kahili airfield. All my bombs hit on the target from 14,000 feet. While on the beginning of my bombing run I saw one of my best friends go down in flames. Shot down by Jap night fighters. He was Lt., soon to be Capt., Eckles, of Santa Barbara. We had been together for the past year in the 23rd [Bombardment Squadron]. We were both [flight school class] 42E men. His was a real crew, with some swell men, co-pilot, Lt. Jones, a classmate of my co-pilot, Bomb. Lt. Knop, Nav. Lt. Fox, Enj., Sgt. Kelly, Ass. Enj., Sgt. Greene, Radio, Sgt. Davis, Hill and a couple of other men. I'm going to ask if I can take Rex's personal things home to his folks, and one day wife in Santa Barbara." In fact, this B-17 was shot down by Japanese J1N1 Irving night fighter. Justin Taylan adds: "I researched the Japanese side of this mission in Japan at the Tokyo Defense Archives. According to Japanese records, a J1N1 piloted by Tokumoto took off from Ballale Airfield at 10:40pm. At 11:15pm sighted a B-24 and made three attacks and claiming it shot down. Next, at 2:15 local time sighted a B-17 and made three attacks, claiming it shot down. Damaged in both engines, the J1N1 ditched into the sea and sank, killing the observer in the crash. Confirmed by Lucas' diary entry, the claim for the B-17 at 2:15 is most certainly this bomber." Search Two aircraft unsuccessfully searched for the B-17, taking off at 10:15am and returning at 15:15. They reported unlimited visibility over Santa Isabel and Choiseul, as far north as the straights between Choiseul and Fauro. At Long 156 degrees 25' west and Lat 6 degrees 35' South, what was thought to be a CO2 bottle was spotted, but nothing further was sighted. Memorials Officially, the entire crew was declared dead on January 11, 1946. Seven of the crew are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery. Three are memorialized at Hawaii Cemetery (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing. Eckles earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Gwendolyn Waters adds: "My father was a B-17 pilot stationed on Guadalcanal in 1942-43 and his best friend, Rex Eckles, was shot down right in front of him as they prepared to bomb Kahili Airfield on the island of Bougainville on July 19, 1943. After many years of searching, in July of this year we finally located Lt. Eckles' brother and were able to share with him the last photos taken of Rex and the story of how he died. He had never known. He also knows now that his brother has a namesake - my brother Rex." Jones 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. Fox earned the 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. Knop iearned the earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 7. Kelly earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Kelly also has a memorial marker at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at section MU, site 36. Greene earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Savedge earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Davis earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Hill earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Hensley earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Hensley also has a memorial marker at L.B. Cook Cemetery in Oceana, WV. Relatives Howard Eckles (brother of Rex Eckles) References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Rex A. Eckles NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - David C. Jones NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William H. Fox NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard H. Knop NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Herbert J. Kelly NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Raymond H. Greene NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Charles D. Savedge NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William T. Davis NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edmund O. Hill NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Paul L. Hensley Other published sources state this B-17 was lost due to anti-aircraft fire [sic Japanese night fighter]. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9153 "9153 delivered Geiger 301st BG Apr 29, 1942, Lowry May 31, 1942. Assigned to 431st BS, 11th BG at Hickam Field Jun 7, 1942. Transferred to 23rd BS, 5th BG Espirito Santo Jul 22, 1942. (5th BG, 23rd BS, "Tokyo Taxi") shot down by Japanese J1N1 Irving nightfighter near Kahili, Solomons Jul 19, 1943. MACR 87. 9 crew and 1 passenger KIA." Missing Air Crew Report 87 (MACR 87) created July 19, 1943 lists the cause of loss as "unknown" Kodochosho, 251 Kōkūtai, July 19, 1943 thanks to Minoru Kamada for translation American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Rex A. Eckles American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - David C. Jones American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William H. Fox American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard H. Knop American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Herbert J. Kelly American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Raymond H. Greene American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles D. Savedge American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William T. Davis American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edmund O. Hill American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Paul L. Hensley FindAGrave - 1LT Rex Albert Eckles (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt David C Jones (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt William H Fox (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Richard H. Knop (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Herbert J Kelly (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Herbert J Kelly (photo, memorial marker) FindAGrave - SSgt Raymond H Greene (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Charles Davis Savedge (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Charles Davis Savedge (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - CPL William Trask “Bill” Davis (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Edmund O Hill (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Paul Laverne Hensley (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Paul Laverne Hensley (memorial marker) Grey Geese Calling (1981) pages 15, 115 Fortress Against The Sun (2001) page 374, 389 (lists shot down by AA) A History of IJN's Night-Fighters (2004) page 78 "A few hours before the dawn of July 19th, a Gekko (PO2 Yamauchi, Iwao + CPO Iwayama, Takashi) chased a B-17 which just finished bombing Buin. The Gekko shot B-17 by firing 260 rounds of 20mm. 60-80 rounds for 20mm were expended on the average to shoot an enemy plane, however, Iwayama consumed 260 rounds during this interception. It is too much. [Author Watanabe] suspects that PO2 Yamauchi was not an expert pilot yet so he wasted to much ammunition. He probably pulled the trigger before his plane got enough closer to the hostile bomber within the range." Diary of Captain Anthony Dean Lucas July 19, 1943 via Gwendolyn Waters Quest for Rex Eckles and B-17E Tokyo Taxi by Gwendolyn Waters Thanks to Howard Eckles, Gwendolyn Waters and Minoru Kamada 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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