Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated. Constructors Number 3543. Delivered to the U.S. Army. Ferried overseas to Hawaii.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 7th Air Force (7th AF), 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 26th Bombardment Squadron (26th BS). No known nickname or nose art. Nose number 394.

When lost, engine R-1820-65 serial numbers serial number BP 42-9945, BP 42-9922, BP-429902 and BP 429840. Aboard were ten .50 caliber machine guns and two .30 caliber machine guns. Weapons serial numbers noted in Missing Air Crew Report 3876 (MACR 3876).

Mission History
On April 4, 1944 took off from Eniwetok Airfield piloted by Captain Allan R. Taflinger on a night bombing mission against Truk. Weather was .3 to .4 cloud coverage. Last contacted by radio ten miles northeast of Dublon Island. This B-24 was observed on fire and did not respond to to radio calls while the formation was flying parallel to the reef around Truk. When this bomber failed to return, the entire crew was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was B-24J 42-100216 (MIA).

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 15, 1946. Agard, Doxtator, Dougherty, Morris and Rutland are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

Taflinger, Van Metre, Harlow, Crehan and Hastings are memorialized at the courts of the missing at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). Van Metre on court 5. Taflinger, Harlow, Crehan and Hastings on court 7.

Van Metre (Vanmetre) also has a memorial marker at Marengo Cemetery in Marengo, IN.

Agard also has a memorial marker at Laketon Township Cemetery in North Muskegon, MI.

Crehan also has a memorial marker at Riverview Memorial Park in North Charleston, SC.

Rutland also has a memorial marker at Mount Hope Cemetery in Hiawatha, KS.

Hastings also has a memorial marker at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Laurel, DE.

References
Missing Air Crew Report 3876 (MACR 3876)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Allan R. Taflinger
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles G. Morris
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Paul B. Van Metre
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Bernard C. Harlow
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles M. Agard
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John E. Crehan
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ross E. Rutland
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Warren E. Dougherty
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kenneth P. Doxtator
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Hermus J. Hastings
FindAGrave - Capt Allan R Taflinger (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - FltOff Charles G Morris (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Paul B. Vanmetre (photo, memorial marker)
FindAGrave - 1Lt Bernard C Harlow (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt Charles M Agard (photo, tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Charles Marvin Agard (photo, memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt John E Crehan (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - John E. Crehan (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt Ross E Rutland (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Ross E. Rutland (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - TSgt Warren E Dougherty (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt Kenneth P Doxtator (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - SSgt Hermus Jackson Hastings (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Hermus Jackson Hastings (memorial marker)

Last Updated
December 3, 2024