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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 5th AF 22nd BG 408th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Robert C. Stone, O-888789 (MIA / KIA) Martinsville, VA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Nicholas W. Freije, O-835178 (MIA / KIA) Broome County, NY Navigator 1st Lt. Earl A. Blessing, O-724283 (MIA / KIA) Harrisburg, PA Bombardier 1st Lt. Carroll G. Henry, O-673673 (MIA / KIA) San Angelo, TX Engineer TSgt Truman L. Livingston, 18134185 (MIA / KIA) Gray, TX Assistant Engineer SSgt Robert J. Fritz, 37654469 (MIA / KIA) Oxford Junction, IA Radio TSgt Donald M. Myers, 31253776 (MIA / KIA) VT Assistant Radio SSgt Roy S. Andersen, 12120739 (MIA / KIA) NY Gunner SSgt James E. Gilbert, 15055276 (MIA / KIA) Bell County, KY Gunner SSgt Robert E. Ciscell, 6665112 (MIA / KIA) Dugger, IN Crashed October 10, 1944 MACR 13821 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 3801. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-80-CO Liberator serial number 42-110005. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History During April 1944 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), 408th Bombardment Squadron (408th BS). Tail letter L. Also known as "000" for the last three digits of the serial number. No known nickname or nose art. Assigned to crew cheif Gruppe. On Apirl 18, 1944 first combat mission. In total, this bomber flew at least 25 combat missions before it was lost. When lost engines R-1830-65 serial numbers BP432006, BP-446364, BP-432968 and BP-432870. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers not listed in Missing Air Crew Report 13821 (MACR 13821). Mission History On October 10, 1944 took off from Owi Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Robert C. Stone as one of twenty-six B-24s from the 22nd Bomb Group on a bombing mission against Balikpapan on Borneo. Inbound to the target, intercepted by 40-50 Japanese fighters that made aggressive attacks and dropped phosphorous bombs to break up the bomber formation. Over the target area, hit by fragments from an air-to-air phosphorous bomb that likely damaged the no. 3 engine. After the bomb run around 10:55am this B-24 began loosing altitude and lagged behind the formation and was targeted by roughly twenty enemy planes, attacking in pairs until shot down. At least six of the crew were seen to bail out before the B-24 exploded ripping off the tail section and blowing two other crew clear of the wreckage and their parachutes were observed to open. When this B-24 failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Fates of the Crew The eight parachutes were observed to land in the sea roughly 60 miles east of the target area. Afterwards, they were never seen again. Likely, the entire crew died at sea. Search Afterwards, a U.S. Navy (USN) submarine on life guard duty was alerted to rescue the crew but was unable to find any trace of the crew. Memorials The entire crew is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Stone earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. Freije earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Floral Park Cemetery in Johnson City, NY. He has a second memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery in the memorial section. Blessing earned the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Henry earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. Livingston earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Fritz earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Myers earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Saint Peters Cemetery in Vergennes, VT. Andersen earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Gilbert earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Ciscell earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References Previously, on April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday" Stone and Henry survived bailing out of B-24J 42-110000 and returned to duty after more than a week in the jungle. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert C. Stone NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Carroll G. Henry USAF Serial Number Search Results - USAF Serial Number Search Results 42-110005 "110005 (22nd BG) hit by AA over Balikpapan and then shot down by enemy fighters Oct 10, 1944. All crew killed. MACR 13821" Missing Air Crew Report 13821 (MACR 13821) created April 2 1945 (Page 2) List Henry as Bombardier but he was likely the navigator. List Blessing as navigator but he was likely bombardier NARA Records of World War II Prisoners of War none of the crew are listed as official prisoners of the Japanese American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert C. Stone American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Nicholas W. Freije American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Earl A. Blessing American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Carroll G Henry American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Truman L. Livingston American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert J. Fritz American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald M. Myers American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Roy S. Andersen American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James E. Gilbert American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert E. Ciscell FindAGrave - 1Lt Robert C Stone (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1st Lt. Robert C. Stone (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Nicholas W. Freije (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Nicholas W. Freije (Floral Park Cemetery memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Nicholas William Freije (Arlington National Cemetery memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Earl W Blessing (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Carroll G Henry (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Truman L. Livingston (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Robert J. Fritz (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Robert J. Fritz (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Donald M Myers (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Donald M. Myers (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Roy S Andersen (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt James E Gilbert (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Robert Erven Ciscell (photo, tablets of the missing photo) Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 314 (map), 320-321 (October 10, 1944 mission), 483 (October 10, 1944 crew), 507 (42-110005, 408th BS), 621 (index Stone) 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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