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| USAAF 5th AF 22nd BG 408th BS |
Pilot Captain Thomas C. Paschal, O-888688 (MIA / KIA, BR) El Monte, CA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt John A. Widsteen, O-691166 (MIA / KIA, BR) Palo Alto, CA Navigator 1st Lt James P. Gullion, O-803142 (MIA / KIA, BR) Paris, TX Bombardier 1st Lt Frank P. Giugliano, O-673063 (MIA / KIA, BR) New York, NY Engineer SSgt Elgin J. Luckenbach, 18106009 (MIA / KIA, BR) Luckenbach, TX Asst Engineer S/Sgt Marion B. May, 38108748 (MIA / KIA, BR) Amarillo, TX Radio SSgt Richard F. King, 34350910 (MIA / KIA, BR) Moultrie, GA Asst Radio Sgt Marshall P. Borofsky, 16172175 (MIA / KIA, BR) Chicago, IL Gunner SSgt William Lowery, 15089215 (MIA / KIA. BR) Republic, PA Gunner Sgt Walter G. Harm, 33184186 (MIA / KIA, BR) Philadelphia, PA Passenger 2nd Lt Leland A. Rehmet, O-752627 (MIA / KIA, BR) San Antonio, TX Crashed April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday" at 3:05pm MACR 4512 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-80-CO Liberator serial number 42-100225. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History During March 1944 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG) "Red Raiders", 408th Bombardment Squadron (408th BS). Nicknamed "Royal Flush". Also known as "225" for the last three digits of the serial number. On April 12, 1944 first bombing mission against Hollandia. Over the next three days, flew three more missions. When lost, engines R-1830-65 serial numbers: 42-88101, BP425763, 8P-425921 and 42-42281. Mission History On April 16, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by Captain Thomas C. Paschal on a bombing mission against Hollandia. Returning from the mission, the formation encountered a severe weather front. This B-24 was last last sighted out to sea north of Saidor. When this B-24 failed to return it was was declared Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was B-24J 42-110000 (2 MIA, 8 rescued). Afterwards, the mission was dubbed "Black Sunday" for the number of aircraft lost. Search On April 17, 1944 at 8:30am search missions were flown (Mission 108C-Q) for this missing bomber by fifteen B-25 Mitchells plus eight B-24 Liberators from V Bomber Command without results. They searching the area between Port Moresby, Dobodura, Aware, Cape Gloucester and off the coast of New Guinea including the mouth of the Sepik River, Ramu Valley, Markham Valley, Kerema and Yule Island. Wreckage In fact, this B-24 crashed into the Finisterre Range. In early 2001, a local villager from Saidor found the crash site while hunting for wallaby near Kunukio and recovered remains plus dog tags for May and Harm. The villager reported the discovery to U.S. Army CILHI representative Brian Bennett. During 2002, a team from U.S. Army CILHI surveyed the crash site and located the tail serial number and found human remains and also took custody of the remains recovered by the villager. Later that same year, two more teams excavated the crash site and recovered the remains of the crew and personal effects including the dog tags for Luckenbach, May and Paschal. Once located and confirmed, the crash of this B-24 was designated as site "PP-46" (Papua New Guinea 46). This B-24 crashed only 700 meters away from B-24J "Here T'is" 42-72946 (MIA) that crashed returning from the same April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday" mission. Brian Bennett adds: "A local had come across the wreck while hunting. I had some dispute with that as when i had an opportunity to visit the site [PP-46] i noted that a tyre on one of the main landing gear had been cut open at one stage [a long time previously] so that the tube could be cut out [for use as slingshot rubber etc] which meant that the crash site had probably been known of for some time. My role was telling the CILHI recovery team of the discovery to at least go check out a report of dog tags and some remains in a village. The end result was that the team were led to the site by helicopter., after first visiting another [B-24J 42-72946]. They were on asked by a native 'was the team pleased about the bones n stuff lying around?' when the team leaders said yes the native then asked them if they wanted to see the other aircraft [this B-24] over on the next hill? The result of a visit to this site was that they had two B-24's that went missing on Black Sunday. It is near certain now that both aircraft had joined up so as to fly back to Nadzab." Recovery of Remains During 2002, three teams from U.S. Army CILHI conducted recovery operations at the crash site and recovered the remains of the crew. Among the personal effects found Sgt Marshall P. Borofsky identification bracelet with the inscription "Always, Edith" engraved inside. On July 19, 2005 the entire crew were identified by the Department of Defense (DoD) using Mitochondrial DNA obtained from dental and bone samples. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 25, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. On April 21, 2006 remains that could not be positively identified or individually identified with were buried in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 60 Site 8350. The group burial includes remains of each of the crew, including those who were individually identified. Paschal earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 21, 2006 Paschal was individually buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8352. On April 21, 2006 Paschal was included in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 60 Site 8350. Widsteen earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 21, 2006 Widsteen was included in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 60 Site 8350. Widsteen also has a memorial marker at Alta Mesa Memorial Park in Palo Alto, CA at Hillview section, subsection 1. Gullion earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 21, 2006 Gullion was included in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 60 Site 8350. Giugliano earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 21, 2006 Giugliano was included in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 60 Site 8350. Giugliano also has a memorial marker at Saint John Cemetery and Mausoleum in Middle Village, Queens, NY at Section: 28 Row: F Plot: 19 Grave: 2. Luckenbach earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 21, 2006 Luckenbach was individually buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8354. On April 21, 2006 Luckenbach was included in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 60 Site 8350. He also has a memorial marker at Greenwood Cemetery in Fredericksburg, TX. and Arlington National Cemetery. May earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 21, 2006 May was individually buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8353. On April 21, 2006 May was included in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 60 Site 8350. May also has a memorial marker at Oak Hill Memorial Park in McAlester, OK at section 15, north. King earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 21, 2006 King was included in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 60 Site 8350. King also has a memorial marker at Westview Cemetery in Moultrie, GA at lane 2 east, section 3, block B, lot 29 (3 B 29 2nd east). Borofsky earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 21, 2006 Borofsky was individually buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8357. On April 21, 2006 Borofsky was included in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 60 Site 8350. Lowery earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 21, 2006 Lowery was individually buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8355. On April 21, 2006 Lowery was included in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 60 Site 8350. Harm earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 21, 2006 Harm was individually buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8356. On April 21, 2006 Harm was included in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 60 Site 8350. Rehmet earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 21, 2006 Rehmet was individually buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8351. On April 21, 2006 Rehmet was included in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at Section 60 Site 8350. Rehmet also has a memorial marker at Moulton City Cemetery in Moulton, TX at section 6. Relatives Jason Golden (third cousin of Marshall Borofsky): "The remains of Sgt. Marshall Borofsky were positively identified in September [2005]. We have been advised by the Pentagon that Sgt. Borofsky (a third cousin of mine) will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on April 21, 2006 with full military honors. This ID process took three and a half years and was actually expedited with the help of the committee for government reform in US Congress. I had a friend inside who was eager to help when I told them of the situation - Sgt. Borofsky's brother is in his mid 70's and had still never known anything about Marshall for 60 years. The family got word in 2002 that the plane was found in PNG, but we were still waiting for a resolution and ID of the remains. The funeral date was set two weeks ago. Hopefully you can get the word out that another soldier from 'Black Sunday' will be coming home." David Braeutigam (second cousin of Elgin J. Luckenbach) "My 2nd cousin Elgin Luckenbach was on one of the missing planes found 10 years ago listed on your site. I have decided to write a book about it and his crew, Royal Flush and Black Sunday: When the 408th Bomb Squadron lost the crew of the Royal Flush and were discovered 60 years later." References USAF Serial Number Search Results - USAF Serial Number Search Results 42-100225 "100225 (22rd BG, 408th BS) MIA Apr 16, 1944 in weather-related accident, New Guinea. On that day (Black Sunday) the US 5th AF lost 37 aircraft to weather. MACR 4512. Wreck located in 2002. All 11 on board killed." Missing Air Crew Report 4512 (MACR 4512) created April 19, 1944 Missing Air Crew Report 8378 (MACR 8378) created April 19, 1944 page 4 (map Captain Paschal last sighted) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-100225 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas C. Paschal "remains were recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Thomas C. Paschal (grave) section 60 site 8352 Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Thomas C. Paschal (group burial) section 60 site 8350 FindAGrave - Cpt Thomas Clayton Paschal (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Capt Thomas C. Paschal (photo, ANC group burial) DPAA Personnel Profile - Thomas Clayton Paschal date of identification July 19, 2005 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John A. Widsteen "remains were recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - John A. Widsteen (group burial) section 60 site 8350 FindAGrave - 2LT John Austin Widsteen (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2LT John Austin Widsteen (photo, ANC group burial) FindAGrave - John Austin Widsteen (memorial marker photo) DPAA Personnel Profile - John Austin Widsteen date of identification July 19, 2005 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James P. Gullion "remains were recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - J. P. Gullion (group burial) section 60 site 8350 FindAGrave - 1LT James Paul Gullion (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1LT James Paul Gullion (photo, ANC group burial) DPAA Personnel Profile - James Paul Gullion date of identification July 19, 2005 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank P. Giugliano "remains were recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Frank P. Giugliano (group burial) section 60 site 8350 FindAGrave - 1LT Frank P. Giugliano (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1LT Frank P. Giugliano (photo, ANC group burial) FindAGrave - Frank P. Giugliano (memorial marker photo) DPAA Personnel Profile - Frank P. Giugliano date of identification July 19, 2005 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Elgin J. Luckenbach "remains were recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Elgin J. Luckenbach (grave) section 60 site 8354 Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Elgin J. Luckenbach (group burial) section 60 site 8350 FindAGrave - SSGT Elgin Julius Luckenbach (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSGT Elgin Julius Luckenbach (photo, grave photo, memorial marker) FindAGrave - SSGT Elgin Julius Luckenbach (memorial marker Greenwood Cemetery, DoD news release) DPAA Personnel Profile - Elgin J. Luckenbach date of identification July 19, 2005 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Marion B. May "remains were recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Marion B. May (grave) section 60 site 8353 Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Marion B. May (group burial) section 60 site 8350 FindAGrave - SSGT Marion Bert “Buster” May (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSGT Marion Bert "Buster" May (photo, ANC individual burial, ANC group burial) FindAGrave - Marion B May (photo, memorial marker) DPAA Personnel Profile - Marion B. May date of identification July 19, 2005 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard F. King "remains were recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Richard F. King (group burial) section 60 site 8350 FindAGrave - SSGT Richard Fowler King (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSGT Richard F. King (ANC group burial) FindAGrave - SGT Richard Fowler King (memorial marker photo) DPAA Personnel Profile - Richard F. King date of identification July 19, 2005 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Marshall P. Borofsky "remains were recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Marshall P. Borofsky (grave) section 60 site 8357 Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Marshall P. Borofsky (group burial) section 60 site 8350 FindAGrave - Sgt Marshall P Borofsky (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Marshall Borofsky (group ANC burial photo, memorial marker) DPAA Personnel Profile - Marshall Borofsky date of identification July 19, 2005 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William Lowery "remains were recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - William Lowery (grave) section 60 site 8355 Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - William Lowery (group burial) section 60 site 8350 FindAGrave - SSGT William Lowery (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSGT William Lowery (group ANC burial, ANC group burial photo) DPAA Personnel Profile - William Lowery date of identification July 19, 2005 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Walter G. Harm "remains were recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Walter G. Harm (grave) section 60 site 8356 Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Walter G. Harm (group burial) section 60 site 8350 FindAGrave - SGT Walter Graham Harm (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SGT Walter Graham Harm (ANC individual burial photo, group ANC burial photo) DPAA Personnel Profile - Walter G. Harm date of identification July 19, 2005 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leland A. Rehmet "remains were recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Leland A. Rehmet (grave) section 60 site 8351 Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Leland A. Rehmet (group burial) section 60 site 8350 FindAGrave - 2LT Leland Arnim Rehmet (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2LT Leland Arnim Rehmet (photo, ANC individual burial photo, ANC group burial photo) FindAGrave - Leland Arnim Rehmet (memorial marker photo) DPAA Personnel Profile - Leland A. Rehmet date of identification July 19, 2005 DPMO News Release "Airmen Missing In Action in World War II Identified" April 19, 2006 Black Sunday (2000) by Michael Claringbould Royal Flush and Black Sunday: When the 408th Bomb Squadron lost the crew of the Royal Flush and were discovered 60 years later (2019) by by David W. Braeutigam Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 222 (map), 236 (April 12, 1944 mission), 240 (April 16, 1944 missing) 243 (42-100225 crash site found), 244 (photos from CILHI mission 2002 by Brian Bennett) 480 (appendix II - April 16, 1944 44-100225) 507 (appendix III - 44-100225 notes possible nickname as "Royal Flush" with question mark as unconfirmed), 618 (index Paschal), 619 (index Royal Flush) 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  Map April 16, 1944  MIA 11 Missing Resolved |
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