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| USAAF 13th AF 307th BG 370th BS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Nathaniel G. J. Guiberson, O-661828 (MIA / KIA) Dallas, TX Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Richard M. Foss, O-678221 (MIA / KIA) Evanston, IL Navigator 2nd Lt George E. Scamman, O-0797407 (MIA / KIA) West Scarborough, Maine Bombardier 2nd Lt Leonard R. Graff, 0-727633 (MIA / KIA) Brooklyn, NY Engineer SSgt Seymour L. Adelman, 12010960 (MIA / KIA) Margate City, NJ Asst Engineer SSgt Robert N. Furtwangler, 36160718 (MIA / KIA) Parma, Michigan Radio SSgt John E. Fanning, 13047851 (MIA / KIA) Harrisburg, PA Assistant Radio Sgt James O. Avery, 7008922 (MIA / KIA) Sulphur, LA Tail Gunner SSgt Robert J. Ventura, 18125902 (MIA / KIA) Grants Pass, OR Armourer-Gunner Pvt Gordon P. Bullock, 20914045 (MIA / KIA) San Francisco, CA MIA June 30, 1943 MACR 30 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 1331. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-40-CO Liberator serial number 42-40254. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SOPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 307th Bombardment Group (307th BG), 370th Bombardment Squadron (370th). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines R-1830-43 serial numbers 41-14753, 42-44079, 42-44119 and 42-44031. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers not listed in Missing Air Crew Report 30 (MACR 30). Mission History On June 30, 1943 at 7:05am took off from Carney Field on Guadalcanal piloted by 2nd Lt. Nathaniel B. Guiberson, Jr. on "X-Ray" search mission an armed reconnaissance mission to report the weather and search for enemy shipping to the northwest at low altitude for enemy shipping and water craft in the vicinity of Choiseul Island then onward to southern Bougainville then return via Shortland Island and New Georgia then return. The weather was reported as good. After take off, this B-24 was not seen or heard from again. This bomber had instructions to radio weather reports every 30 minutes but no reports were ever made. When this bomber failed to return as scheduled at 12:30pm, it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). That morning, a Japanese air raid by fifteen A6M Zeros from 582 Kokutai plus twelve A6M Zeros from 204 Kokutai engaged in air combat over the Rendova and engaged in dog fights with U.S. fighters. The Zero pilot claimed "one bomber shot down" that was likely this bomber. Also, during the morning "Rendova Patrol" a U.S. fighter pilot reported seeing a B-24 land in the sea roughly 3/4 of a mile north of Rendova with the tail on fire. Search Afterwards, two days of search missions were flown for the missing B-24 with nil results. Memorials The crew was officially declared dead on January 21, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Guiberson earned the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant effective July 15, 1943, but had not been promoted and remained listed as a 2nd lieutenant in Missing Air Crew Report 30 (MACR 30). Foss earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Calvary Cemetery in Freeport, IL. Graff earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant effective July 25, 1943, but had not been promoted and remained listed as a 2nd lieutenant in Missing Air Crew Report 30 (MACR 30). Adelman earned the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Avery earned the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Furtwangler earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Fanning earned the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Avery earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Ventura earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Bullock earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Nathaniel G. Guiberson, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard M. Foss NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George E. Scamman NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Leonard R. Graff NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Seymour L. Adelman NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert N. Furtwangler NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John E. Fanning NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Gordon P. Bullock Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) - Seymour Adelman Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) - James O. Avery Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) - Gordon Bullock USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-40-CO Liberator 42-40254 "40254 (307th BG, 370th BS) disappeared on anti-shipping mission out of Carney Field, Guadalcanal Jun 30, 1943. MACR 30" Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) 370th Bombardment Squadron (H) AAF Office of the Squadron Commander enlisted men of this organization 1 February 1943 pages 1-3 (Page 1) "S/Sgt / Furtwangler, Robert N. / 36160718 / Aerial Engineer-Gunner [killed]" Missing Air Crew Report 30 (MACR 30) created July 1, 1943 (Page 1) No. 11 Number of persons a board aircraft incorrectly lists navigator as "Scammon" [sic Scamman] Consolidated Mission Report 307th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force, June 30, 1943 "Losses: On June 30th when the Yanks started marching thru New Georgia and the offensive for these islands got underway, Lt. Nathaniel Guiberson and his crew were sent on an armed reconnaissance flight around the New Georgia group. He departed at 710 Local Time and was due back around 1230, He was scheduled to report to base weather every 30 minutes but no contact was ever had. A fighter pilot engaged in one of the three aerial battles near Rendova, reported he had seen a B-24 land in the water 3/4 of a mile north of Rendova, its tail on fire. Nothing has since been heard from this crew. There is a possibility that the men may be safe on the nearby island, but plane and crew are now 'missing in action'." Air Force Historical Research Agency (AFHRA) Historical Data 370th Bombardment Squadron 1 July 1942 to 30 September 1942 page 16 (Page 16) "On the 30th day of June 1943, Lt. Guiberson left at seven AM on the routine search for shipping in the New Georgia, Kolombangara and Rendova Island area. This was the beginning of our concerted effort to invade Rendova and New Georgia Islands which was resisted by a heavy concentration of Japanese aircraft in the vicinity of Rendova. Lt. Guiberson was apparently caught in this melee as one of our fighter pilots reported a B-24 with its tail afire making a water landing one quarter mile northwest of Rendova. Lt. Guiberson, pilot; Lt. Foss, co-pilot; Lt. Graff, bombardier, Lt. Scammon, navigator, S/Sgts Adelman, Fanning, Furtwangler, Sgts Ventura, Avery and Pvt Bullock have not returned." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Nathaniel G. J. Guiberson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard M Foss American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leonard R. Graff American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Seymour L. Adelman American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert N. Furtwangler American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John E. Fanning American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James O. Avery American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert J. Ventura American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gordon P. Bullock FindAGrave - 1Lt Nathaniel G Guiberson, Jr (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Richard M Foss (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Richard M Foss (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Leonard R Graff (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Seymour L Adelman (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Robert Norman Furtwangler (news, obituary, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - John E. Fanning (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt James O Avery (obituary, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Robert J Ventura (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - PFC Gordon P Bullock (tablets of the missing) Thanks to Richard Dunn for additional information 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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