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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 64th BS  USAAF 1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Julian A. Petty, O-674625 (MIA / KIA) Warren County, KY Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Albert S. Kenyon, O-809965 (MIA / KIA) Syracuse, NY Bombardier 2nd Lt. William Bohman Jr., O-735253 (MIA / KIA) Hamilton County, OH Navigator 2nd Lt. Lester L. Katzen, O-753005 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Engineer TSgt Harold H. Cranmer, 12168383 (MIA / KIA) Endicott, NY Radar SSgt Gilbert L. Dillon, 37205035 (MIA / KIA) Arkansas City, KS Radio TSgt Eugene W. Bailey, 17018038 (MIA / KIA) Minneapolis, MN Gunner SSgt James L. Ervin, 17052489 (MIA / KIA) Ranger, TX Gunner SSgt Warren W. Thompson, 38088869 (MIA / KIA) Stigler, OK Gunner Sgt William M. Towery, 19004062 (MIA KIA) Nampa, ID Crashed June 4, 1944 MACR unknown Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 3787. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-80-CO Liberator serial number 42-109991. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. During late 1943, took off from Archerfield Airfield piloted by Cober on a flight to Port Moresby. Wartime History During late 1943, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS). Nicknamed "Gallant Lady" and later "Lady Lynn" was added. Also known as "991" for the last three digits of the serial number. On October 21, 1943 piloted by 1st Lt. Joseph C. Cox, Sr. while taxiing suffered a break failure taxiing from a revetment to the runway and ran into a ditch with minor damage and injuries and did not participate in the bombing mission against Sattelberg and Wareo. Mission History On June 4, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Julian A. Petty on a mission to locate and bomb a Japanese convoy spotted the previous night to the northwest of Manokwari but failed to find the convoy. Returning in bad weather and low on fuel and without making any radio calls was observed to crash roughly five miles off Yamma Island (Palau Yamma) southeast of Wakde Island off the north coast of western New Guinea. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search After the crash, frigate Coranoda searched the area where it crashed and found a wing tank, oil accumulators, oxygen tanks and other charred articles. No trace of the crew were found. Memorials The entire crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Petty earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart for wounds as co-pilot B-24D "Ben Buzzard" 42-40670 ditched October 18, 1943 and an Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. Kenyon earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Woodlawn Cemetery in Syracuse, NY at section 41, lot 116. Bohman earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Saint Joseph Cemetery in Cincinnati, OH section 33, lot 364 grave 1, next to his parent's grave. Katzen earned the Air Medal, Soldier's Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Cranmer earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Monroeton Cemetery in Monroeton, PA. Dillon earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Bailey earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters; Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters Ervin earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart, posthumously. Thompson earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart, posthumously. Towery earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Julian A. Petty NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Albert S. Kenyon NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William Bohman Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Lester L. Katzen NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harold H. Cranmer NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Eugene W. Bailey NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James L. Ervin NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Warren W. Thompson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William M. Towery USAF Serial Number Search Results - USAF Serial Number Search Results 42-109991 Missing Air Crew Report unknown (MACR unknown) created retroactively circa 1945-1946 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Julian A Petty American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Albert S. Kenyon American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William Bohman Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lester L. Katzen American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold H. Cranmer, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gilbert L. Dillon American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Eugene W. Bailey American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James L. Ervin American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Warren W. Thompson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William M. Towery FindAGrave - Julian A Petty (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Albert Spencer Kenyon Jr. (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Albert Spencer Kenyon Jr. (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt William Joseph Bohman Jr. (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Lester Leon Katzen (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Harold H Cranmer Jr. (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Harold H Cranmer Jr. (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Gilbert Lee Dillon (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Eugene W Bailey (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt James Lee Ervin (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Warren Wesley Thompson (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt William Monroe Towery (photo, tablets of the missing photo) Ken's Men Against The Empire: The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume II: October 1943 to 1945 B-24 Era (2019) pages 20 (October 21, 1943), 126-127 (June 4, 1944), 357 (June 4, 1944, 42-10991), 372 (64th BS, 42-109991), 384 (photo), 446 (index Gallant Lady), 451 (index Lady Lynn), 456 (index Petty) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 26, 2025 |
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