Wartime History
Assigned to the 7th Air Force, 11th Bombardment Group, 42nd Bombardment Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines R-1830-65 serial numbers 42-88428, 42-91927, 42-93046 and BP-449656. Aboard were .50 caliber machine guns and a single .30 caliber machine gun, serial numbers listed in Missing Air Crew Report 11622 (MACR 11622).

Mission History
On January 22, 1945 took off from Isley Field No. 1 on Guam at 2:38pm piloted by 1st Lt. Charles F. Pratte, Jr. on an aerial mining mission of Chi Chi Jima Harbor bordering Chi Chi Jima. Weather was reported as ceiling and visibility unlimited (CAVU). After take off, this bomber was not heard from again. When it failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Search
Captain Jordan M. Churchill was in charge of the search for this missing bomber. Two B-24s from the 11th BG searched for this missing bomber without results in the area between Guam and Iwo Jima flying at 2,000'. Also, Army and Navy aircraft were altered to be on the lookout for this bomber. Smoke and a life raft were sighted at Lat 17°  N, Long 144° 29' E at 222325Z.

Memorials
The entire crew as officially declared dead the day of the mission and earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). Vinroot on court 5. Pratte, Ball, Meagher, Mashaw, Slawsky, Hyson, Farrell and Maloney on court 7.

Ball also has a memorial marker at Rose Hill Cemetery in Chickasha, OK at block 18, lot 30.
Mashaw also has a memorial marker at Wildwood Cemetery in Lyons Falls, NY.

Pratte earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Vinroot earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Ball earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Meagher earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Mashaw earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Slawsky earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Hyson earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Farrell earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-110-CO Liberator 42-109871
"109871 (11th BG) lost Jan 22, 1945, North Pacific. MACR 11622"
Missing Air Crew Report 11622 (MACR 11622) created January 24, 1945
Rome Daily Sentinel "Lyons Falls Sgt. W. H. Mashaw Missing On Saipan: Engineer-Gunner on bomber Lost in Action Jan. 22, Parents Learn" February 26, 1945
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles F. Pratte Jr.
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Paul E. Vinroot
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Randolph H. Ball
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard J. Meagher
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William H. Mashaw
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John Slawsky
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph R. Hyson
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William J. Farrell
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Arthur T. Maloney
FindAGrave - Capt Charles F Pratte, Jr (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - 2Lt Paul E Vinroot (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - 1Lt Randolph H Ball (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Lieut Randolph H Ball (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - 1Lt Richard J Meagher (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - TSgt William H Mashaw (news, courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - William H Mashaw (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - TSgt John Slawsky (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt Joseph R Hyson (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt William J Farrell (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt Arthur T Maloney (courts of the missing photo)

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Last Updated
February 14, 2020