|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 400th BS   90th BG c1943 |
Pilot F/O John L. Stiles, T-000237 (POW, died MIA / KIA) Philadelphia, PA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Frank P. Baker, O-798725 (MIA / POW / KIA) Fulton County, GA Crew 2nd Lt John D. Elliott, O-670046 (MIA / KIA, BR) Jefferson County, AL Crew 2nd Lt Dale R. Lawyer, O-674590 (POW, died MIA / KIA) La Salle County, IL Crew T/Sgt William R. Hatcher, Jr., 38172903 (MIA / KIA) LA Crew T/Sgt Edward M. Tierney, 31172274 (MIA / KIA) Conimicut, RI Crew S/Sgt Mont O. Bower, 37217419 (MIA / KIA, BR) Medoc, MO Crew S/Sgt Virgil R. Harmon, 38174105 (MIA / KIA) LA Crew S/Sgt Wilson F. Harmon, 34144735 (MIA / KIA) Sharon, TN Crew S/Sgt Ernest R. Huff, 13012678 (MIA / KIA) Venango County, PA Crashed August 20, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 1002. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-20-CO Liberator 41-24207. 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), 400th Bombardment Squadron (400th BS). This B-24 flew some combat mission as an unnamed aircraft, then was nicknamed "Miss Carriage" with nose art of a stork delivering a bomb. Mission History On August 20, 1943 took off from 5 Mile Drome (Ward) near Port Moresby piloted by F/O John L. Stiles on a bombing mission against Wewak. Departing the target, a Japanese fighter fired at this bomber from extreme range and hit one of the engines, setting it on fire, and causing it to descend roughly 800', then both wings collapsed. Seven parachutes were observed, one on fire by other B-24s in the formation before the bomber exploded and crashed. Japanese fighters strafed the men in parachutes until they landed roughly a mile away from the target, and could not be determined if any survived. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Fates of the Crew On March 7, 1944 Stiles was mentioned on an unofficial Japanese radio broadcast as a prisoner at Wewak. A Japanese broadcast on April 3, 1944 mentioned Lawyer and Baker as a prisoners at Wewak. [Read text of broadcast]. On April 14, 1944 the 400th BS was notified that a Japanese broadcast stated eight men were taken prisoner, believed to be from this B-24. In May 1945 when the Australian Army captured the Wewak area, they discovered on a Japanese cemetery on Mission Point with five graves with the names and dates: #1 Tierney, #2 Feehan, #3 Power, #4 Name Illegible, #5 Sheroden. All had a date of death listed as "Nov 1942" The date of death was deemed to be in error. After being exhumed and transported to the American Cemetery at Finschafen. The U.S. Army determined the remains in grave #1 listed as "Tierney" to be P-38 Lightning pilot 2nd Lt. Robert E. Feehan. Grave #3 listed as "Power" was determined to be S/Sgt Mont O. Bower. The remains in grave #5 listed as "Sheroden" were determined to be 2nd Lt. John D. Elliott. All three were crew members aboard this B-24. The remains of Stiles, Lawyer and Baker were never located, but presumed to have been taken prisoner and executed or otherwise died in captivity. During 2011, JPAC potentially visited this site during mission 11-1 PP and coded the site JPAC Site 126. A dog tag from "John D. Elliott" was turned over to the team that was recovered from a burial site. Later that year on mission 11-2 PP the burial site was investigated. Memorials Stiles was officially declared dead January 12, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Baker was officially declared dead January 12, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at College Park Cemetery in College Park, GA. Elliot was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at at Manila American Cemetery at plot C row 16 grave 47. He also has a memorial marker at Forest Hill Cemetery in Birmingham, AL at section 2. Lawyer was officially declared dead January 12, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Hatcher was officially declared dead January 12, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Tierney was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Bower was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is buried at Fort Scott National Cemetery section 2, grave 1703. Virgil R. Harmon was officially declared dead January 12, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Wilson F. Harmon was officially declared dead January 12, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Huff was officially declared dead January 12, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Relatives Robert G. Stiles (brother) References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Frank P. Baker NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John D. Elliott NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Dale R. Lawyer NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward M. Tierney NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Virgil R. Harmon NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Wilson F. Harmon NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Ernest R. Huff USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-20-CO Liberator 41-24207 NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File does not list John L. Stiles as official prisoners of the Japanese, this was not uncommon for Allied prisoners captured in forward areas and executed. NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Dale R. Lawyer National Archives and Records Administration (NARA ) RG457 series, entry 9012, box 20, folio 16850 National Security Agency (NSA) Historical Collection - RG457, Box 637, Binder 1701aa AGRS Hq First Aust Army (AIF) "Grave: US Service Personnel" May 3, 1946 "1. Comd 6 Aust Div advises that the graves of 5 American serviceman have been located at map reference WEWAK WEST 346054 (Netherlands East Indies Grid I-inch to I Mile). 2. The particulars on the crosses erected identify the deceased as follows; - T/S Edward M. Tierney, US Air Force Lt. Robert Feehan, " [US Air Force] T/S Mont Power, [S/Sgt Mont O. Bower], " [US Air Force] Particulars on cross illegible 3. The area appears to have an extensive burial ground and portions of clothing of clothing of US patter which have been found indicate the possibility that bodies of other US personnel are buried in the vicinity. 4. Investigations are proceeding and any further information will be forwarded in our course." 293 File Unknown (X-File) X-13 (Finschhafen No. 4) remains identified as Bower American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John L. Stiles American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank P. Baker American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John D. Elliott American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Dale R. Lawyer American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - W. R. Hatcher Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward M. Tierney American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Virgil R. Harmon American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wilson F. Harmon American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ernest R. Huff FindAGrave - FLt O John Lawrence Stiles (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Frank P. Baker (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Frank Pierce Baker (memorial marker) FindAGrave - 2LT John Douglas Elliott (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Lieut John Douglas Elliott (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt John D Elliott (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2Lt Dale R Lawyer (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt William Riley Hatcher Jr. (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Edward M Tierney (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Mont Otto Bower (grave photo) FindAGrave - Virgil R. Harmon (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Wilson Fuller Harmon (obituary, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Ernest Reed Huff (photo, tablets of the missing photo) Japanese Radio Broadcast - Tokyo in English to Western United States April 3, 1944 names Lawyer and Baker PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 41-24207 Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group (1994) page 74 (reference to 1945 grave) The Jolly Rogers (1981) page 196 MacArthur's Eagles (2005) pages 75-77, 346, footnote X "Seven months later, a Japanese radio broadcast named two of the crew as prisoners, but when Australian troops captured Wewak in 1945, no trace of them could be found and some of the crew were located buried in the local cemetery. On 10 February 1944, 4 Air Army officially notified its higher headquarters in Staff Message #2079 that 2nd Lt. John Lawrence Stiles, dob 23 November 1920, from Philadelphia, had died malaria at Wewak on 30 January. Stiles had joined the unit on 30 July." Jolly RogersWeb.com - Jolly Roger Details - Stiles, John L. Daily Journal "Memories of WWII: After kamikaze attack, pilot's body never found" November 10, 2007 reports B-24 struck by kamikaze / ramming Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
|
 B-24  Photo Archive  MIA / POW 2 Prisoner 9 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
