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| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 321st BS  USAAF 1942 |
Pilot 2nd Lt Howard F. Carlson, O-661920 (MIA / KIA) Chesterton, IN Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Walter L. Jacobson, O-791443 (MIA / KIA) New York, NY Bombardier 2nd Lt Kennard W. Keys, O-729449 (MIA / KIA) Sterling, KS Navigator 2nd Lt John S. Walker, O-729680 (MIA / KIA) Ocala, FL Engineer T/Sgt Robert L. Carr, 11032546 (MIA / KIA) Cambridge, MA Tail Gunner S/Sgt Herbert R. Fasnacht, 13068313 (MIA / KIA) Ephrata, PA Engineer/Gunner S/Sgt Gerald F. Gaul, 16064685 (MIA / KIA) Punxsutawney, PA Gunner S/Sgt Robert M. Jenkins, 17045114 (MIA / KIA) Kansas City, MS Photographer Sgt Walter Bondarik, 32181128 (MIA / KIA) Bronx, NY Radio Cpl Archer L. Harper, 34263370 (MIA / KIA) Milledgeville, GA Gunner Cpl Franklin M. Weaver, 36109405 (MIA / KIA) Shipshowana, IN MIA February 19, 1943 MACR 15071 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 397. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-CO Liberator serial number 41-11901. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History On November 17, 1942 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG), 321st Bombardment Squadron (321st BS) "Bombs Away". Nicknamed "Lady Lucy". Mission History On February 19, 1943 at 5:35pm took off from 5-Mile Drome (Wards) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt Howard F. Carlson on a solo reconnaissance mission over the southern coast of New Britain. Their last radio contact was made one hour later when a report was received stating the bomber was entering a weather front over the Cape Ward Hunt area. Wiley Woods recalls: "There were two messages received, one about weather and later another about a small four ship convoy with a Zero escort near Gasmata." When this B-24 failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Officially written off as missing on February 22, 1943. According to the Japanese side, nine A6M Zeros from the 253 Kokutai took off from Gasmata Airfield on an afternoon patrol mission and claimed a single B-24 Liberator as shot down southern New Britain This claim was likely for this bomber. A6M Zero piloted by Lt(jg) Yoichi Kenmochi [Kenmotsu] failed to return. The other eight Zeros returned safely. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on January 8, 1946. Each of the crew earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Fasnacht has a memorial marker at Middle Creek Brethren Cemetery in Lititz, PA. Gaul had a memorial on April 14, 1946. and has a memorial marker at White Church Cemetery in Hamilton, PA. Harper also has a memorial marker at White Plains Cemetery in White Plains, GA. Weaver has a memorial marker at Lupold Cemetery in Shipshewana, IN. Relatives Fred Willey (nephew of Gaul) "Gerald F. Gaul was born September 29, 1920 in Punxsutawney, PA. His home was Sagamore, PA. His B-24 was MIA off southern coast New Britain near Lolobau Island [this island is off the northern coast]" Randall Zwally (nephew of Fasnacht) "My uncle was (Tail Gunner) Staff Sergeant Herbert Fasnacht (13068313) lost in February of 1943. I have his medals and memorabilia. I would be interested in contacting any relatives of the other crew members - or finding out any more information about this lost flight. I will add your additional comments about your uncle to the page, thank you for sharing them. Also, his photo." References Note, some sources incorrectly list the date of loss as February 22, 1943 Individual Aircraft Record Card (IARC) B-24D 41-11901 "Missing 22.2.43" [sic, February 19, 1943] USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-CO Liberator 41-11901 "11901 (90th BG, 321st BS) lost Feb 22, 1943" Missing Air Crew Report 15071 (MACR 15071) created retroactively circa 1945–1946 Kodochosho, 253 Kōkūtai, February 19, 1943 Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group (1994) page 42 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 41-11901 Zero's Chronicle in the Solomons Campaign Volume 1 mentions this loss and incorrectly states this B-24 took off at 5:35am and attributes the loss to the 253 Kokutai morning interception by ten Zeros rather than the afternoon interception by nine Zeros. Chesterton Tribune -"Howard Carlson Meets Enemy; Bombs Ship February 4, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Howard F. Carlson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Walter L. Jacobson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kennard W. Keys American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John S. Walker American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert L. Carr American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Herbert R. Fasnacht American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gerald F. Gaul American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert M. Jenkins American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Walter Bondarik American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Archer L. Harper American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Franklin M. Weaver FindAGrave - 1Lt Howard F Carlson (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Walter L Jacobson (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Kennard Wayne Keys (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1Lt John S Walker (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Robert L Carr (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Herbert R Fasnacht (photo, obituary, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Herbert R Fasnacht (memorial marker photo, photo) FIndAGrave - SSgt Gerald F Gaul (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Gerald Franklin Gaul (memorial marker photo, obituary) FindAGrave - SSgt Robert M Jenkins (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Walter Bondarik (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Archer L Harper (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Archer Lee Harper (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Corp Franklin M Weaver (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Franklin M Weaver (photo, memorial marker photo) Thanks to Richard Dunn, Minoru Kamada, Bob Livingstone and Pete Johnston 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
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