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| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 320th BS  USAAF May 15, 1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt. John H. Savarese, Jr., O-799874 (KIA, BR) New Orleans, LA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt James T "Jack" Wright, O-675150 (KIA, BR) Wabash County, IN Bombardier 1st Lt Jeff D. Montgomery, Jr., O-671477 (KIA, BR) Morris County, TX Navigator 1st Lt Carl F. Gutman, O-673552 (KIA, BR) Lorain County, OH Radio TSgt George L. Ford, 31162257 (KIA, BR) Cambridge, MA Engineer TSgt Edward J. Protz, 33314122 (KIA, BR) Philadelphia, PA Gunner SSgt Clifford P. Dockendorf, 37305778 (KIA, BR) Stearns County, MN Gunner SSgt William B. McLain, 14131560 (KIA, BR) Lucedale, MS Gunner SSgt James E. Neilson, 33278599 (KIA, BR) Allegheny County, PA Gunner SSgt Albert Goulet, 32497779 (survived) Cleveland, OH Photographer SSgt Joe H. Gandara, 15102289 (KIA, BR) San Antonio, TX Crashed May 15, 1944 MACR none Wartime History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. On February 3, 1944 delivered by the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-130-CO Liberator serial number 42-110051 and the same day flown to Tuscon, AZ for modification. On February 17, 1944 flown to Hamilton Field. On February 24, 1944 flown to Santa Ana, CA and remained until March 17, 1944. On March 20, 1944 ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific before arriving in Australia on March 31, 1944. Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) "Jolly Rogers", 320th Bombardment Squadron (320th BS) "Moby Dick". No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engine and weapon serial numbers unknown. On May 14, 1944 pilot Savarese flew a mission and was not scheduled to fly the next day. When he learned his friend Captain Andy S. Muri was leading the 320th Bombardment Squadron the next day, he volunteered to fly with a different crew. Co-pilot Wright was from Lt. Herbert T. Goodrich's crew. The enlisted men were from Lt. Robert O. Bostwick's crew. Mission History On May 15, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. John H. Savarese, Jr. on bombing mission against the Sawar and Maffin Bay areas. Also aboard was photographer SSgt Joe H. Gandara. After takeoff, the no. 2 engine caught fire and the pilots attempted to climbed high enough to salvo the bombs, but the left wing caught the ground causing the bomber to cartwheel, crash and explode killing the entire crew with the exception of gunner Goulet. Memorials Those killed in the crash were officially declared dead the day of the mission and their remains were recovered at buried at Nadzab. Postwar, they were exhumed and transported to Manila and the United States for permanent burial according to their families wishes. Five of the crew are buried at Manila American Cemetery including Gutman, Ford, Protz, Dockendorf and McLain. Gutman earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot D row 11 grave 47. Ford earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot C Row 2 Grave 43. Protz earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot A Row 14 Grave 201. Dockendorf earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot C Row 13 Grave 45. McLain earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot A Row 12 Grave 80. The remainder of the crew are buried in private cemeteries in the United States: Savarese is buried at Valence Street Cemetery in New Orleans, LA. Wright is buried in Fairview Cemetery in Servia, IN. Montgomery is buried in Snow Hill Cemetery in Cason, TX. Neilson is buried at Allegheny County Memorial Park, Allison Park, PA. Gandara is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, TX. Sole survivor Albert Goulet passed away on July 19, 1971. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery at plot 2R, grave 1563. References Note, this bomber's serial number is sometimes incorrectly listed as B-24J Liberator serial number 42-110058 [sic] NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Albert Goulet Individual Aircraft Record Card (IARC) - B-24J Liberator 42-110051 Newspaper Article, April 1948: "James T. Wright's body was returned to N. Manchester for burial. He was killed in his plane as he was taking off on a flying mission from a New Guinea airfield in 1945 [sic 1944]. He had always wanted to fly and was taught by his brother John Henry Wright who had a private airfield near Servia. He was the son of Galen and Olive Fouts Wright. Burial was in Fairview. Servia, Indiana." USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-130-CO Liberator 42-110051 "110051 (90th BG, 320th BS) crashed on takeoff from Nadzab, New Guinea May 15, 1944. All 10 crew killed" Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group (1994) page 116 (photo) FindAGrave - John H Savarese (photo, gave photo) FindAGrave - James T Wright (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Jeff Davis Montgomery, Jr (photo, grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Carl F. Gutman FindAGrave - 1Lt Carl F Gutman (grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George L. Ford FindAGrave - TSgt George Leo Ford (photo, grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward J. Protz FindAGrave - TSgt Edward J Protz (grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Clifford P. Dockendorf FindAGrave - SSgt Clifford P Dockendorf (grave photos) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William B. McLain FindAGrave - William B. McLain (grave photo) FindAGrave - James E Neilson (grave photo) FindAGrave - Joe H Gandara (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Albert Goulet Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated June 4, 2025
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