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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 14th AF 308th BG 373rd BS  USAAF c1943  USAAF c1943 |
Pilot Captain Leroy D. Cunningham, O-431945 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Richard P. Hjorth, O-730120 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA Navigator Captain James M. Everly, O-728365 (KIA) Cardin, OK Bombardier Captain Maynard P. Johnson, O-663272 (KIA, BR) Rockford, IL Engineer T/Sgt Michael B. Ludwig, 39181211 (MIA / KIA) Canes, WA Radio T/Sgt Vincent J. Pizzoferrato, 15071556 (MIA / KIA) Canton, OH Asst Gunner S/Sgt Leo J. Kennedy, 20121839 (MIA / KIA) Fall River, MA Asst Radio T/Sgt Kenneth H. Pershke, 13040925 (KIA, BR) Bradford, PA Gunner S/Sgt Eldred W. Stafney, 37281162 (MIA / KIA) ND Observer 2nd Lt Pu Shi Ping, Chinese Air Force (MIA / KIA) China Crashed September 15, 1943 MACR 11907 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 1013. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-20-CO Liberator serial number 41-24218. Ferried overseas to China-Burma India (CBI). Wartime History Assigned to the 14th Air Force (14th AF), 308th Bombardment Group (308th BG), 373th Bombardment Squadron (373th BS) "Flying Tigers". Nicknamed "Daisy May". When lost, engines R-1830-43 serial numbers a) 42-59108 b) 42-59436 c) 42-59282 d) 42-38254. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns, makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On September 15, 1943 at 1:05pm took off from Yangkai Airfield piloted by Captain Leroy D. Cunningham as one of seven B-24s on a bombing mission against a cement plant north of Hai Phong (Haiphong) near Hanoi. During the take offs, two B-24s became stuck in the mud and were unable to get airborne leaving only five five in the formation. The weather was ceiling and visibility unlimited (CAVU). Over the target the formation bombed from an altitude of 12,000' and was intercepted by 50+ enemy fighters. This B-24 was hit by gunfire an flipped over before crashing into the Gulf of Tonkin (Tongking Gulf). When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost were B-24D "Temptation" 41-24129 (POW/MIA) and B-24D "Mohawk" 42-40786 (POW/MIA). Recovery of Remains Postwar, the remains of Johnson and Pershke were recovered and transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The missing crew members were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Cunningham earned the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Hjorth earned the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Everly earned the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Everly also has a memorial marker at Leavenworth National Cemetery in section MA, site 91. Ludwig earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Ludwig is also memorialized at the World War II Veterans Memorial in Camas, Washington. Pizzoferrato earned the Air Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Kennedy earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Stafney earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Ping has no known memorials. Johnson is buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 12, site 3066. Pershke was buried in 1952 in Penn Lincoln Memorial Park in North Huntingdon Township, PA. References Note, some references incorrectly list the Liberator nickname as "Daisy Mae" [sic] NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Leroy D. Cunningham NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard P. Hjorth NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Maynard P. Johnson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Michael B. Ludwig NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Vincent J. Pizzoferrato NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Leo J. Kennedy NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Kenneth H. Pershke USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-20-CO Liberator 41-24218 Missing Air Crew Report 11907 (MACR 11907) created retroactively February 13, 1945 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leroy D. Cunningham FindAGrave - Capt Leroy D. Cunningham (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard P. Hjorth FindAGrave - 1Lt Richard P. Hjorth (photo, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James M. Everly FindAGrave - Capt James M. Everly (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - CPT James Marion Everly (memorial marker photos) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Michael B. Ludwig FindAGrave - TSGT Michael Bernard “Mickey” Ludwig (photo, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Vincent J. Pizzoferrato FindAGrave - TSgt Vincent James Pizzoferrato (photo, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leo J. Kennedy FindAGrave - Leo J. Kennedy (tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Eldred W. Stafney FindAGrave - Eldred W. Stafney (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Maynard P. Johnson (grave photo) FindAGrave - Kenneth Herman Pershke (burial record) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated August 12, 2025
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