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| USAAF 5th AF 380th BG 528th BS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. John H. Harwood, O-723915 (MIA / KIA) Manitoba, Canada Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Edwin A. Jenkins, O-833338 (MIA / KIA) Amenia, NY Navigator Captain Lawrence H. Van Den Berg, O-1041467 (MIA / KIA) Ulster County, NY Bombardier 2nd Lt. George J. Faulkner, 2065375 (MIA / KIA) Radio TSgt Joseph J. Ruszczyk, 31350643 (MIA / KIA) MA Engineer TSgt Francis L. Shalala, 15322469 (MIA / KIA) OH Gunner SSgt Earnest D. Holley, 18160841 (MIA / KIA) OK Gunner SSgt John F. Bolta, 39927900 (MIA / KIA) MN Gunner SSgt George W. Ethridge, 38602964 (MIA / KIA) AR Gunner SSgt Estal W. Conaway, 35701634 (MIA / KIA, BR) Dearborn County, IN Crashed May 17, 1945 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego between February 1-7, 1944. Constructors Number 3919. On February 9, 1944 first test flight. On February 10, 1944 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-135-CO Liberator serial number 42-110123. On April 4, 1944 departs Hamilton Field on a ferry flight via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. On April 26, 1944 arrives Garbutt Field at Townsville. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG), 528th Bombardment Squadron (528th BS). Nicknamed "Bums Away" with nose art depicting hobo figures jumping from a rail car door. Aircraft number 125. Assigned to pilot E. R. Spencer. First combat mission was May 8, 1944 on photographic reconnaissance mission over Jefman Island. In total, this bomber flew 80 combat missions with various air crews. Mission History On May 17, 1945 took off from San Jose Airfield on Mindoro Island pilot 2nd Lt. John M. Harwood on a bombing mission against Matsuyama Airfield on Formosa. Shortly after take off, crashed into Magarin Bay and exploded on impact with the crew listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Officially stricken off charge August 1, 1945. Recovery of Remains Afterwards, the remains of Conaway were recovered and postwar transported to the United States for burial. Memorials Officially declared dead the day of the mission. The nine missing crew members are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Harwood earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Jenkins earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Amenia Island Cemetery in Amenia, NY. Van Den Berg earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Faulkner earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Ruszczyk earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Mater Dolorosa Cemetery, South Hadley, MA. Shalala earned the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Holley earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Stigler Cemetery in Stigler, OK. Bolta earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Calvary Cemetery in Havre, MT. Ethridge earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Means Cemetery in Hampton, AR. Conaway earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Oakdale Cemetery in Dillsboro, IN at W244-7. References Sources list Vandenberg three ways: Van Den Berg, Vanden Berg, or Vandenberg. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John H. Harwood NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edwin A. Jenkins NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George J. Faulkner USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-135-CO Liberator 42-110123 380th Bomb Group Association - Data Sheet B-24J "Bums Away" 42-110123 (lists crash as Murtha Strip) 380th Bomb Group Association - Mission Record "Bums Away" 42-110123 (missions 1-40) 380th Bomb Group Association - Mission Record "Bums Away" 42-110123 (missions 41-81) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John H. Harwood American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edwin A. Jenkins American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lawrence H. Van Den Berg surname listed as three words American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George J. Faulkner American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph J. Ruszczyk American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Francis L. Shalala American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Earnest D. Holley American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John F. Bolta American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - G. W. Ethridge FindAGrave - 1Lt John Harold Harwood (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2LT Edwin Alton Jenkins (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Edwin Alton Jenkins (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Capt Lawrence H Van Den Berg (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lawrence H. Vandenberg (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt George J. Faulkner (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Joseph John Ruszczyk (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Joseph John Ruszczyk (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Francis L. Shalala (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSGT Earnest Doyle Holley (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Earnest Doyle Holley (memprial marker photo) FindAGrave - John Francis Bolta (grave photo) FindAGrave - SSGT George W. Ethridge (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - George W Ethridge (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Estal Walter Conaway (grave photo) The Best in the Southwest (1995) pages 356-357 (May 17, 1945), 448 (42-110123, 528th BS) 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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