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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 |
Pilot 1st Lt John H. Werner, O-437628 (MIA / KIA) Fond Du Lac County, WI Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Edward J. Devine, O-726682 (KIA, BR) Tracy, CA Crew 1st Lt Edward J. Walpole, O-434621 (MIA / KIA) IL Crew 2nd Lt Walter C. Seidel, O-727928 (WIA, survived) Tipton, KS Crew SSgt Albert L. Butterfield, 39166921 (WIA, survived) Crew S/Sgt William B. Gregory, Jr., 6576588 (MIA / KIA) CA Crew Cpl John J. Glenn, 34301678 (KIA, BR) Youngstown, OH Crew Cpl Harold L. Williams, 14058711 (MIA / KIA) Gage County, NB Crew Cpl Raymond J. Slazas, 12012081 (MIA / KIA) PA Crew Pvt Claude J. Semler, 37113199 (MIA / KIA) Wellman, IA Ditched November 15, 1942 at 8:00am MACR 16076 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 555. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-5-CO Liberator serial number 41-23760. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) "Jolly Rogers", 319th Bombardment Squadron (319th BS) "Asterperious". Nicknamed "Lady Beverly". This B-24 was lost on its first combat mission, and was the first combat loss for the 319th Bombardment Squadron. Mission History On November 15, 1942 took off piloted by 1st Lt John H. Werner on a bombing mission against Buin-Faisi area. This B-24 was flying on its first combat mission. Over the target, damaged by anti-aircraft fire and returning ditched near Baibara Island off the southern coast of New Guinea at roughly Lat 10.22 Long 149.35. Fates of the Crew The entire crew with the exception of Seidel and Butterfield were killed in the crash. The two survivors managed to swim ashore. The next day, the bodies of Devine and Glenn washed ashore and were buried by the survivors. Search Afterwards, the two survivors were observed in the sea by B-17C "Pamela / E.M.F." 40-2072 and later rescued. Ray adds: "Took off on its first combat mission to Buin-Faisi. The crew of which I was a member, Major Eckert's crew, was on that first mission. One of my radio buddies, William B. Gregory, was radio operator on Lt. Werner's crew. While on its bombing run over the target Werner's plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire and struggled for home with damaged engines. Ultimately, this crew also had to ditch, and eight of its ten member crew were killed in the crash. Two of the crew made it to shore alive, and ultimately, as I recall, two others were washed ashore dead the next day. I don't believe the bodies of the remaining six were ever recovered." Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of some of the crew were recovered including Devine. Postwar, transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The missing crew members were officially declared dead on November 15, 1942. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Wreckage In 2005, Pacific Helicopter pilot Manu Stack visited this area, and was informed of this crash site and reported it to Brian Bennett who reported it to JPAC. Memorials The crew that died in the crash were officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Werner earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Devine earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On June 30, 1948 buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Hayward, CA. Walpole earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Gregory earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Glenn earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Postwar, he was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown, OH. Williams earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Slazas earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Semler earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Johnson County, Iowa. Seidel passed away on February 2, 2011 at age 89. He is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Phillipsburg, Kansas. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John H. Werner NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward J. Devine NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward J. Walpole NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Walter C. Seidel NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Albert L. Butterfield NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John J. Glenn NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harold L. Williams NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Raymond J. Slazas USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-5-CO Liberator 41-23760 "23760 lost Nov 16, 1942 at Baibara Is, PNG" Lt F. W. Carroll Navigator Log Sheet Missing Air Crew Report 16076 (MACR 16076) created retroactively circa July 1946 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 41-23760 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John H. Werner American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward J. Walpole American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William B. Gregory, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold L. Williams American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Raymond J. Slazas American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Claude J. Semler FindAGrave - 1Lt John H Werner (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Edward Joseph Devine (grave photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Edward J Walpole (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt William B Gregory Jr. (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - CPL John Joseph Glenn FindAGrave - CPL Harold L Williams (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Harold L. Williams (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Raymond J. Slazas FindAGrave - Pvt Claude J Semler (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Claude J Semler (memorial marker, obituary) FindAGrave - Walter Charles Seidel (photos, grave photo) 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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 B-24  MIA 6 Missing |
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