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| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 320th BS  90th BG c1942 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Dayton S. Altman, Jr., O-659626 (MIA / KIA) Mullins, SC Co-Pilot Lt. Norman D. Smith, O-661983 (survived) Navigator 2nd Lt. William H. Hoyt, Jr., O-660493 (MIA / KIA) Andes, NY Bombardier 2nd Lt. Herbert H. Gardner, Jr., O-727630 (MIA / KIA) De Kalb County, GA Crew TSgt Freddie K. Affeld, 15082101 (MIA / KIA) Valparaiso, IN Radio TSgt Francis M. Brigham, 11010936 (MIA / KIA) Tolland County, CT Crew SSgt Vincent M. Calise, 32199356 (MIA / KIA) Bronx, NY Crew SSgt John F. Ratliff, 13035569 (MIA / KIA) Tazewell County, VA Crew SSgt Francis E. Bogucki, 11010977 (MIA / KIA) Fairfield County, CT Ditched January 9, 1943 MACR 764 / 15683 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 567. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-5-CO Liberator serial number 41-23772. 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", 320th Bombardment Squadron (320th BS) "Moby Dick". Nicknamed "Little Eva" (Second Little Eva). Learning of the nickname, pilot Crosson of B-24D "Little Eva" 41-23762 requested exclusive rights to this nickname for his bomber, but his bomber crashed before the nickname could be removed. Mission History On January 9, 1943 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted 2nd Lt. Dayton S. Altman, Jr. on a bombing mission against a Japanese convoy sighted east of Finscahfen in the Huon Gulf bound for Lae. This B-24 was given the convoy's position via radio and flew to the target at 7,000' though broken clouds and did not spot the convoy until they overflew it. As the B-24 made its bomb run, it was attacked by eight A6M Zeros attacking in pairs that made seven or eight head-on passes. The nose gun ceased firing and a shell severely wounded pilot Altman was in his head and also hurt the radio operator Brigham. Taking the controls, co-pilot Smith dove down to 2,000' and tried to evade the Zeros in clouds, but they continued to damage the bomber, setting the no. 3 engine on fire, but was extinguished using the the fire extinguisher, but the no. 2 engine also caught fire and was extinguished, but the propeller would no feather. Smith called for the crew to prepare to ditch, but none responded. Smith and wounded Altman tried to make a smooth ditching, but suffered a violent impact, that submerged the nose section. All of the crew with the exception of Smith were listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Fate of the Crew After the ditching, Smith was able to escape through the cockpit window and shouted for the others, but none responded. He managed to reach a floating life raft as the bomber sank. Alone, Smith rowed to shore and was later rescued. Memorials The dead crew members was officially declared dead the day of the mission. The entire crew earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Altman also has a memorial marker at Cedardale Cemetery in Mullins, SC. Hoyt also has a memorial marker at Woodland Cemetery in Delhi, NY. Gardner also has a Marietta National Cemetery at section MB site 15. He also has another memorial marker at Westview Cemetery in Atlanta, GA. Brigham also has a memorial marker in Grove Hill Cemetery in Rockville, CT. Ratliff also has a memorial marker in Greenhills Memory Gardens in Claypool Hill, VA. Relatives Dayton Altman (nephew of Lt. Dayton Altman) References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Dayton S. Altman NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William H. Hoyt, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Herbert H. Gardner, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Freddie K. Affeld NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Francis M. Brigham NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Vincent M. Calise NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John F. Ratliff NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Francis E. Bogucki USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-5-CO Liberator 41-23772 Missing Air Crew Report 764 (MACR 764), Missing Air Crew Report 15683 (MACR 15683) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 41-23772 The Jolly Rogers (1981) pages 30-31, 195 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Dayton S. Altman Jr. FindAGrave - 2LT Dayton Stokes Altman Jr. (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Dayton S. Altman Jr. (photo, memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William H. Hoyt, Jr. FindAGrave - 2Lt William Harry Hoyt Jr. (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT William Harry Hoyt Jr. (photo, memorial marker photo) Oneonta WWII Fallen - William Hoyt by James Greenberg (photos) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Herbert H. Gardner, Jr. FindAGrave - 2Lt Herbert H Gardner Jr. (photo, obituary, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Herbert Howard Gardner Jr. (obituary, Westview Cemetery memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Herbert Howard Gardner Jr. (obituary, Marietta National Cemetery memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Freddie K. Affeld FindAGrave - TSgt Freddie Kenneth Affeld (photo, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Francis M. Brigham FindAGrave - TSGT Francis M Brigham (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSGT Francis M. Brigham (photo, obituary, memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Vincent H. Calise FindAGrave - SSgt Vincent M Calise (photo, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John F. Ratliff FindAGrave - SSgt John Franklin Ratliff (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSGT John Franklin Ratliff (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Francis E. Bogucki FindAGrave - SSGT Francis E Bogucki (tablets of the missing 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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