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Pilot Major Edson Eugene Kester, O-22354 (MIA / KIA) FL Co-Pilot Captain William "Bill" Ragsdale, Jr., O-022514 (MIA / KIA) TX Passenger Sgt Melvin O. Donoho, 18003946, 17th PS, armorer (survived) Covington, OK Passenger Sgt Willard J. Beatty, 6256686 24th PG, 17th PS (MIA / KIA) CO Passenger Captain Charles A. Stafford, 022686 Medical Corps (MIA / KIA) WY Passenger Keats Poad, O-421213 (MIA / KIA) PA Passenger 2nd Lt. Richard L. Taylor, O-427045 (MIA / KIA) NY Passenger SSgt Howard C. Cliff, 7021697 (MIA / KIA) PA Passenger SSgt John M. Rex, 6581412 (MIA / KIA) UT Passenger SSgt Elvin P. Westcott, 6386186 (MIA / KIA) MS Passenger Sgt Samuel F. Foster, 6252463 (MIA / KIA) AR Passenger Cpl Jack T. Taylor, 18034892 (MIA / KIA) TX Passenger Pvt Richard G. Sheetz, 13000321 (MIA / KIA) VA Passenger 2nd Lt. Howard K Petschel, O-412158 7th BG, HQ (MIA / KIA) MN Passenger Captain Charles A. Stafford, O-022686 Medical Corps (MIA / KIA) WY Passenger Captain Harry W Markey, O-021663 (MIA / KIA) WA Passenger Pvt Joseph N. Gordon, 34044808 52nd Signal Battalion (MIA / KIA) TN Passenger Pfc Nicholas D. Bunardzya, 6999625 (MIA / KIA) PA Passenger Pvt Clarence B. Johnson, 20911984 43d Material Sq, 32d ABG (MIA / KIA) CA Passenger SSgt Leo D. Steinmetz, 6914316 (MIA / KIA) KS Passenger Cpl Hubert McDonald, 14029544 (MIA / KIA) GA Crashed March 3, 1942 at 9:30am MACR 15467 Aircraft History Wartime History Mission History Again on March 3, 1942 took off from Broome Airfield at 9:23am just prior to the Japanese air raid on Broome. Overloaded, this B-24 struggled to climb to 600' altitude and was attacked by A6M2 Zero piloted by Warrant Officer Osamu Kudo who had just strafed the airfield. Hit in the fuselage fuel tank, the bomber caught fire and crashed into Roebuck Bay roughly 10 miles from shore and 7 miles off Cable Beach. On impact, the fuselage broken into two pieces, the wings separated and the pieces sank within three minutes. Fates of the Crew Near shore, Donoho observed that Beatty gave up from exhaustion, and was not seen again. It is claimed that Beatty's body was later found by Australians on the beach. According to a 1943 article by war correspondent George Weller, the Australians who found Beatty's body “found signs of life, but he remained completely delirious. Flown the same day to Perth, he died there in hospital in 24 hours without regaining consciousness”. Beatty is still listed as Missing In Action (MIA), yet presumably was buried in Australia after he died. Reportedly, his brother traveled to Australia years later to search for him, but never found anything. Also, it is possible he was buried in Australia and his remains never recovered by the American military. Or, he in fact died at sea and his body was never found and recovered. Donoho managed to reach the shore and walked to Broome, arriving at Broome Airfield during the evening of March 4. He angrily reported to Lt. Col Legg that no search had been mounted to search for more of the crew. Afterwards he was sent to the hospital to recuperate, and the next evening evacuated to Perth. Memorials Bob Waterhouse adds: Relatives References Contribute
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