Pacific Wrecks

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

B-24D-40-CO Liberator Serial Number 42-40250

USAAF
13th AF
5th BG
72nd BS

Pilot 1st Lt. Michael A. Lord, O-791466 (survived)
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Radford F. Lowin, O-736263 (survived)
Navigator 2nd Lt. Louis C. Roark, O-667431 (survived)
Bombardier 2nd Lt. Robert S. Potter, O-732972 (MIA / KIA) IN
Engineer T/Sgt Edward R. Semik, 160045215 (survived)
Asst Engineer SSgt Kenneth H. Winham, 18133906 (survived) LA
Radio T/Sgt Robert Chapman, 14051363 (MIA / KIA) NC
Asst Radio S/Sgt Howard L. Whetten, 38122372 (survived)
Gunner S/Sgt Harold L. Ewng, 39178047 (survived)
Gunner S/Sgt Claude J. Myers, 39178049 (MIA / KIA) OR
Ditched June 16, 1943
MACR 85

Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated. Constructors Number 1327. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-40-CO Liberator serial number 42-40250. Ferried overseas via Hawaii to the South Pacific.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG) "Bomber Barons", 72th Bombardment Squadron (72th BS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines 1830-43 serial numbers a) 42-43950 b) 42-37281 c) 42-36386 d) 42-43762. Aboard were ten .50 caliber machine guns, serial numbers not listed in Missing Air Crew Report 85 (MACR 85).

Mission History
On June 16, 1943 took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal at 11:20pm piloted by 1st Lt. Michael A. Lord on a bombing mission in the Solomon Islands. The weather was reported as good. During the return flight, due to fuel shortage this bomber ditched east of Russell Islands at approximately Lat 9° long 159° 30'. During the ditching, four of the crew went missing: Potter, Myers, Chapman and Winham.

Memorials
Four of the crew remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA) and are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

Potter was officially declared dead a year later on June 17, 1943. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, postumously.

Chapman was officially declared dead May 5, 1944. He earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, postumously.

Winham was officially declared dead February 5, 1946.

On April 2, 1944 Winham went Missing In Action (MIA) as assistant engineer aboard B-24J 42-73148 on a mission against Truk and was was officially declared dead February 5, 1946. He earned the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, postumously. He has a memorial marker at Rocky Mount Cemetery in Rocky Mount, LA.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-40-CO Liberator 42-40250
"40250 (8th BG [sic]) lost Jun 16, 1943, Solomons. MACR 85"
Missing Air Crew Report 85 (MACR 85) created July 10, 1943
Page 5 lists the assistant engineer incorrectly as "S/Sgt Kenneth N. [sic] Winham, 16133908 [sic]"
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert S. Potter
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kenneth H. Winham
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert Chapman
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Claude J. Myers
FindAGrave - 2Lt Robert S Potter (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt Kenneth H Winham (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSGT Kenneth H Winham (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - TSGT Robert Chapman (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt Claude J Myers (tablets of the missing photo)

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Last Updated
October 14, 2024

B-24

MIA
3 Missing

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