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| USAAF 7th AF 11th BG 98th BS  Zamperini c1943   11th BG c1943   11th BG April 20, 1943  11th BG c1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Charles E. "Hoppy"
Hopkins, O-726401 (MIA / KIA) WI Co-Pilot 1st Lt. John K. Muncy, O-728908 (MIA / KIA) Alma AR Navigator 2nd Lt. William P. Rowe, Jr., O-678770 (MIA / KIA) San Bernardino, CA Bombardier 2nd Lt. Frank J. Washburn, O-731433 (MIA / KIA) ME Engineer-Gunner TSgt Lorian A. Llewellyn, 16048015 (MIA / KIA) Winona, MN Asst Engineer-Gunner S/Sgt Alan Hibbert, 11043791 (MIA / KIA) Bristol, RI Radio S/Sgt Eugene S. Gurzenda, 33167503 (MIA / KIA) Boswell, PA Radio-Gunner S/Sgt Orvel E. Estes, 18011510 (MIA / KIA) Utopia, TX Armorer-Gunner S/Sgt Sam A. Belfiore, 37124238 (MIA / KIA) Omaha, NE MIA January 20, 1944 MACR 1904 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated in San Diego. Constructors Number 733. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-13-CO Liberator serial number 41-23938. On November 2, 1942 ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 7th Air Force (7th AF), 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 98th Bombardment Squadron (98th BS) based at Motulalo Airfield (Nukufetau). Nicknamed "Super Man" with the nose art of the Superman comic character holding a small aerial bomb and a small hammer on the right side of the nose and machine gun and small bomb on the left side of the nose. On April 17, 1943 departed before midnight on a flight to Canton Airfield to refuel before flying to Funafuti Airfield to stage for a bombing mission against Nauru. On April 20, 1943 at 5:00am one of twenty-two B-24s that took off from Funafuti Airfield on a six hour flight to photograph and bomb the phosphate works on Nauru. The crew included pilot Russel Allen "Phil" Philips. co-pilot 1st Lt Charleton "Hugh" Cuppernell, bombardier 1st Lt. Louis S. Zamperini and navigator 1st Lt. Robert H. Mitchell. Over the target, the formation experienced Japanese anti-aircraft fire and were intercepted by fighters. This B-24 was damaged by both anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters. Aboard, each of the enlisted gunners were wounded. Returning from the mission, Zamperini made emergency splice repairs to the rudder control cables by splicing bomb arming wires around the damaged cables. After landing safely at Funafuti Airfield, one of the wounded gunners succumbed to his wounds later that night. The B-24 sustained nearly 600 holes from battle damage, including five 20mm cannon hits and over 150 7.7mm machine gun hits. Anti-aircraft fire tore off the right vertical stabilizer and inflicted other damage. Later, the "Super Man" nickname and nose art were over painted with olive drab paint, and the bomber was renamed "Sexy Sue-IV" above the nose art of a reclining woman with black hair with an orchid flower in her hair holding a paper with the words "Mother of Ten". This was the same nose art motif on three other 98th Bombardment Squadron Liberators: B-24D "Sexy Sue" 42-40078, B-24D "Sexy Sue II" 41-23952 and B-24D "Sexy Sue III" serial number unknown. When lost, engines R-1630-43 serial numbers 42-42132, 42-42437, 42-36825 and 42-42450. Weapon serial numbers not noted in the Missing Air Crew Report 1904 (MACR 1904). Mission History On January 20, 1944 took off from Tarawa Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Charles E. "Hoppy" Hopkins on a night bombing mission over Wotje Atoll. The weather was scattered cumulus clouds with a weak weather front. Over the target, encountered heavy cumulus clouds. Fifteen minutes prior to the bomb run at 3:01am, they sent a radio message "one engine out, one engine bad" then left the radio key locked down to emit a signal. The message was received by Sgt John A. Hagen, a ground radio operator for the 98th Bombardment Squadron. Fates of the Crew The fate of the crew is unknown. After American forces captured Kwajalein, material from this bomber was captured, indicating the Japanese had visited the crash site. Memorials The entire crew members were officially declared dead on January 24, 1946. All are memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing. Washburn on court 5. Hopkins, Muncy, Rowe, Estes, Belfiore, Hibbert, Gurzenda and Llewellyn on court 7. Hopkins earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial maker at Orange Cemetery in Webster, WI. Muncy earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Melbourne Cemetery in Melbourne, Arkansas. Rowe earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Washburn earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. Llewellyn earned the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Hibbert earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Gurzenda earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Estes earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Belfiore earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-13-CO Liberator 41-23938 "23938 (11th BG, 98th BS) lost Jan 20, 1944 over Wotje" Missing Air Crew Report 1904 (MACR 1904) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles E. Hopkins Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John K. Muncy American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William P. Rowe, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank J. Washburn American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lorian A. Llewellyn American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alan Hibbert American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Eugene J. Gurzenda American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Orvel E. Estes American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Sam A. Belfiore FindAGrave - Lieut Charles E. Hopkins, Jr (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Charles E Hopkins, Jr (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt John K Muncy (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt William P Rowe, Jr (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Lorian A Llewellyn (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Alan Hibbert (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Eugene J Gurzenda (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Orvel E Estes (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Sam A Belfiore (courts of the missing photo, news) Unbroken (2007) pages 58, 63-65, 68-69, 70, 72-73, 75-76, 78, 80-81, 82, 89, 92, 94-96, 97-98, 100-103, 105, 109-112, 114, 116, 136, 138, 184, 186, 215, 401, 420, 460, 469 Exploding Fuel Tanks (2011) pages 106 (photo), 189 Unbroken (2014) the film begins with a scene depicting this B-24 on the April 20, 1943 mission over Nauru FindAGrave - John Kenneth Muncy (grave photo, date of death listed as January 16, 1944 incorrectly) Thanks to Robert 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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