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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 319th BS  90th BG 1943 |
Pilot Captain Charles E. Jones, O-23778 (MIA / KIA) NJ Crew 2nd Lt. Donald R. Habein (MIA / KIA) Rice County, MN Bombardier 2nd Lt. Howard Q. Daniel (MIA / KIA) KS Crew 2nd Lt. George O. Munker, O-791026 (MIA / KIA) Kings County, NY Crew Sgt Alfonse W. Maslaskas, 13052342 (MIA / KIA) Philadelphia, PA Crew Cpl Richard W. Baker, 16040842 (MIA / KIA) Orleans Parish, LA Crew Sgt William P Hicks, 14098258 (MIA / KIA) Douglas County, AL Crew Sgt Lowell F. Smead, 39091285 (MIA / KIA) OR Crew Sgt John Salemi, 36321288 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Crew Pfc George A. Nicholas, 35301721 (MIA / KIA) Trumbull County, OH Photographer Cpl Darcy A.J. Sharland, RAAF 36648 No. 1 Photo Recon Unit (MIA / KIA) Kent, England MIA March 16, 1943 at 1:00pm MACR 16072 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 526. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-1-CO Liberator serial number 41-23731. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) "Jolly Rogers", 319th Bombardment Squadron (319th BS) "Asterperious". Nicknamed "Dirty Gertie" in block letters with double quotes with the nose art of a kangaroo holding a bomb, likely painted by bombardier Daniel. On the left side of the nose was a scoreboard with five bomb markings indicating missions flown and the silhouette of a fighter claimed by gunners. In total, this bomber flew thirteen bombing missions from Australia and New Guinea. Mission History On March 16, 1943 took off piloted by Captain Charles E. Jones on a mission. Aboard was Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Cpl Darcy A.J. Sharland from No. 1 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit who volunteered to be a photographer aboard. At an altitude of 5,000' this bomber exploded at 1:00pm and crashed into the sea approximately fifty miles south of Dramai Island (Yef Dramai) off western New Guinea. The entire crew listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew were declared dead the day of the mission. Jones earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Riverside Cemetery in Morristown, MN in section 90 WCN. Habein earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Daniel earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Marion Cemetery in Marion, KS. Munker earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Maslaskas earned the Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. Baker earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Hicks earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Smead earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; and Purple Heart, posthumously. Salemi earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Nicholas. earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Brookfield Cemetery in Brookfield, OH in East Addition #1. Sharland is memorialized at Lae War Cemetery on the Lae Memorial, panel 7. He is also memorialized at Australian War Memorial (AWM) on the Roll of Honor, panel 104. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Charles E. Jones NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Donald R. Habein NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George O. Munker NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Alfonso W. Maslaskas NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard W. Baker NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William P. Hicks NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Lowell F. Smead NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John Salemi NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George A. Nicholas USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-1-CO Liberator 41-23731 "23731 (90th BG, 319th BS) exploded in flight Mar 16, 1943, SW Pacific." Missing Air Crew Report 16072 (MACR 16072) was created retroactively circa 1945-1946, page 3 lists serial number as 41-123731 [sic 41-23731] American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles E. Jones American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald R. Habein American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Howard Q. Daniel American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George O. Munker American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alfonse W. Maslaskas American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard W. Baker American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William P. Hicks American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lowell F. Smead American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John Salemi American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George A. Nicholas CWGC - Darcy Arthur John Sharland FindAGrave - Capt Charles Edwin “Charlie” Jones Jr. (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2nd Donald R Habein (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2LT Donald R Habein (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Howard Quentin Daniel (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2LT Howard Quentin Daniel (memorial marker photo) 90thBombGroup - 2LT Howard Quentin Daniel (photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt George O Munker (obituary, tablets of the missing) Brooklyn Eagle "George O Munker" May 2, 1943, page 3 FindAGrave - Sgt Alfonso W Maslaskas (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Richard W Baker (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt William P Hicks (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Lowell F Smead (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt John Salemi (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - PFC George Allen Nicholas (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - PFC George Allen Nicholas (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Corporal Darcy Arthur John Sharland (Lae War Memorial photo) FindAGrave - Darcy Arthur John Sharland (AWM photo) Air Power Archaeology - Air Power Archaeology (photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 17, 2025
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