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| USAAF 5th AF 19th BG 30th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt Earl L. Hageman, Jr., O-417618 (MIA / KIA ) King County, WA Crew 1st Lt Dale E. Hanson, O-425083 (MIA / KIA ) Postville, IA Crew 2nd Lt Angelo P. Bianco, O-434589 (MIA / KIA ) Hazleton, PA Crew 2nd Lt Wade H. Lowry, O-431682 (MIA / KIA ) Robeson County, NC Crew S/Sgt Michael G. Adamow, 6946756 (MIA / KIA ) Philadelphia, PA Crew Sgt Thomas H. Jack, 6149279 (MIA / KIA ) Penobscot County, ME Crew Cpl Frank J. Mehock, 7021597 (MIA / KIA ) Duryea, PA Crew Pfc Thomas W. Wilzbacher, 17026627 (MIA / KIA ) Duluth, MN Tail Gunner Sgt Frank W. Plunkett, 6578296 (MIA / KIA ) Barboursville, WV MIA October 5, 1942 MACR 15207 Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2670. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-9196. This bomber was one of thirty-two delivered for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as part of lend-lease. At the factory, RAF roundels and serial number were painted over top the U.S. markings. After the bomber was ferried to the United Kingdom, the USAAF serial number would be over painted. Between May 1942 to June 1942 one of thirty-two B-17s delivered to Cheyenne, Wyoming for the RAF. During the first week of August 1942, four from this batch: B-17E 41-9235, B-17E 41-9234, B-17E 41-9244 and this bomber were retained by the USAAF. Afterwards, repainted with U.S. markings over top the RAF markings applied at the factory. In early August 1942, flown from Hamilton Field via Hickam Field then across the Pacific before arriving in Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On October 5, 1942 took off from Mareeba Airfield piloted by 1st Lt Earl L. Hageman, Jr. as one of six bombers led by B-17F "Biltz Buggy" 41-24403 on a flight to refuel at at 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby then took off again on a bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. Over the target at 24,000' at dawn, the weather was clear but a cloud was over the target that required the formation to go around for another bomb run. Because of the delay, the formation was attacked by approximately 25 Zeros making head on attacks directed against the lead aircraft and this B-17. After about the third attack, this bomber was seen to have an engine feathered and shortly thereafter smoke was seen coming from another engine. The aircraft left the formation and was last seen entering a small cloud with eleven Zeros in pursuit. When this B-17 failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Hageman earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. Hanson earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. Bianco earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Lowry earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Lowry Family Cemetery in Pembroke, NC. Adamow earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Jack earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Mehock earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Wilzbacher earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Calvary Cemetery in Duluth, MN at section A, block 6, lot 24. Plunkett earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Relatives Maury Hurt (nephew of Frank Plunkett) "Sgt Frank Plunkett, served as a B-17 tail gunner, and flew in the Battle of Midway (with pilot Lt. Jack Whidden on B-17E 41-2428) prior to being transferred in August 1942 to the 5th AF, 19th BG, 30th. One of the rewards of my research was that I was able to find Lt. Jack Whidden, who retired as a colonel and is alive and well at 87. He remembers Sgt Plunkett well, as Plunkett was one of the members of his first crew in 1941-42. Col Whidden is the only person I've ever been able to talk with who knew him in the service. His memory is no less than incredible, and he loves to talk about 'the old days'." References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9196 "9196 (19th BG) shot down over Rabaul Oct 5, 1942." Missing Air Crew Report 15207 (MACR 15207) created retroactively circa 1945-1946 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Earl L. Hageman Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Dale E. Hanson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Angelo P. Bianco American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wade H. Lowry American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Michael G. Adamow American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas H. Jack American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank J. Mehock American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas W. Wilzbacher American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank W. Plunkett FindAGrave - 1Lt Earl L Hageman Jr. (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Dale E. Hanson (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Angelo P Bianco (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Wade Hampton Lowry (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Wade Hampton Lowry (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Michael G Adamow (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Thomas H Jack (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Frank J Mehock (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - PFC Thomas W Wilzbacher (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - PFC Thomas William “Bill” Wilzbacher (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Frank W Plunkett (tablets of the missing) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-9196 B-17 At Black Cat Pass by Steve Birdsall Flightpath August-October 2012 "Rabaul October" by Steve Birdsall page 55 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? 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