Pilot Lt. Rush E. McDonald, O-417028 (MIA / KIA) TN
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. John J. Heard, Jr., O-433843 (MIA / KIA) TX
Bombardier Cpl Joseph H. Wood, 6932097 (MIA / KIA) KS
Navigator 2nd Lt. Homer W. Vail, O-433013 (MIA / KIA) MN
Engineer Sgt William L. Hammack, 6983892 (MIA / KIA) IN
Asst Engineer Sgt Richard C. Inman, 6933768 (MIA / KIA) NB
Radio Cpl Leroy Payne, 6923702 (MIA / KIA) AL
Gunner SSgt James E. Briggs, 6151603 (MIA / KIA) MA
Gunner SSgt Daniel L. Cross, 6977309 (MIA / KIA) Bombay, NY
Crashed August 4, 1942
MACR 16119
Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. Delivered to the U.S. Army. Ferried overseas via Hawaii to the South Pacific.
Wartime History
Assigned to the 13th Air Force, 11th Bombardment Group, 26th Bombardment Squadron. No known nickname or nose art.
Mission History
On August 4, 1942 took off from Bomber 1 on Espiritu Santo on a bombing mission against Tulagi. Over the target, attacked by seven A6M2-N Rufe of the Yokohama Kōkūtai. B-17 gunners claimed one shot down another damaged and on fire collided with this bomber over Sealark Channel. Both aircraft crashed into the sea with no survivors. This B-17 was the first aerial combat casualty of the Guadalcanal campaign.
Memorials
The entire crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. All earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
Wood also has a memorial marker at Highland Cemetery in Iola, Kansas.
Hammack also has a memorial marker at Deer Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, Tell City, IN.
Cross also has a memorial marker at Hillside Rest Cemetery in Franklin County NY.
References
Missing Air Crew Report 16119 (MACR 16119)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC)
- Rush E. McDonald
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC)
- John J. Heard Jr.
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC)
- Joseph H. Wood
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC)
- Homer W. Vail
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC)
- William L. Hammack
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard C. Inman
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leroy Payne
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James E. Briggs
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Daniel L. Cross
FindAGrave -1Lt Rush E McDonald (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - 2Lt John J Heard, Jr (photo, tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Corp Joseph Henry Wood (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Corp Joseph Henry Wood (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - 2Lt Homer W Vail (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt William L Hammack (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt William L Hammack (news, memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt Richard C Inman (news, tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Corp Leroy Payne (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt James E Briggs (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt Daniel L Cross (photo, tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt Daniel L. Cross (memorial marker photo)
Fortress Against The Sun pages 231-232, 390, 426
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Last Updated
February 18, 2020
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