|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 11th AF 44th BG 404th BS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. James R. Pottenger, O-661558 (interned, returned to duty) Co-Pilot F/O Richard E. Filler, T-1007 (interned, returned to duty) Navigator 2nd Lt. Charles K. Hanner, O-673559 (interned, returned to duty) Bombardier 2nd Lt. Robert W. Wiles, O-738950 (interned, returned to duty) Engineer TSgt Anthony S. Homitz, 33343637 (interned, returned to duty) Asst Engineer SSgt Peter J. Bernatavich, 33231667 (interned, returned to duty) Radio TSgt James P. Dixon, 35468692 (interned, returned to duty) Gunner SSgt Charles R. Day, 35340048 (interned, returned to duty) Right Waist Gunner TSgt Thomas E. Ring, 14073557 (WIA, died September 1, 1943 BR) Left Waist Gunner SSgt Donald L. Dimel, 15333689 (WIA, interned, returned to duty) Photographer Cpl Richard T. A. Varney, 35301384 (interned, returned to duty) Crash Landed August 12, 1943 at 12:21 MACR 13041 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated. Constructors Number 1386. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-45-CO Liberator serial number 42-40309. Wartime History Assigned to the 11th Air Force (11th AF), 44th Bombardment Group (44th BG), 404th Bombardment Squadron (404th BS). No known nose art or nickname. Assigned to the 28th Composite Group. When lost, engines R-1830-43 serial numbers 42-45295, 42-43769, 42-45135, 42-42813. Weapon serial numbers not noted in MACR 13041. Mission History On August 12, 1943 took off from Amchitka Airfield piloted by 2nd Lt. James R. Pottenger on a bombing mission against Kataoka Naval Base. The weather was ceiling and visibility unlimited (CAVU). Inbound to the target, this bomber's no. 4 engine stopped working, forcing it to fall out of formation. Over the target area, the bomber was intercepted by ten enemy fighters (Zeros and a Hamp). Gunner Ring claimed one shot down. After successfully dropping their bombs on the target, the no. 3 engine began loosing oil pressure, likely due to enemy anti-aircraft fire or the fighters. The propeller was unable to be feathered and the supercharger caught fire. Unable to return to base, this B-24 force landed in a marsh near Petropavlovsk on the Kamchatka Peninsula. During the crash, Ring was severely wounded, breaking both bones in his lower left leg and a dislocated his right hip joint and entered a state of shock. Dimel was also injured. Fates of the Crew After the crash, the entire crew was apprehended by Soviet forces. The two wounded crew members, Ring and Dimel were transported to the Kamchatka border detachment infirmary hospital roughly 20 miles away. Unable to walk, Ring was carried in one of the life rafts and was unconscious for part of the trip and was given morphine to ease his pain. On September 1, 1943 Ring died of his injuries and was buried at the hospital at Petropavlovsk. The remainder of the crew were interred by the Soviets, then returned to US military control. Wreckage The wreckage of this bomber remains at the crash site. Recovery of Remains On July 6, 1947, Lt. Col F. P. Kukarin and A. A. Terekhov, chief of the Anatomical Pathology Laboratory and major in the Medical Corps, and V. S. Remarchuk, judicial and legal medical expert and captain in the Medical Corps, exhumed the remains of TSgt Thomas E. Ring and secured them into a metal coffin for transport to to Vladivostok and transfer to the US Navy 5th Fleet, then transported to the United States. Memorials After the recovery of his remains, Ring was permanently buried at Oakwood Municipal Cemetery in High Point, North Carolina. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-45-CO Liberator 42-40309 "40309 (28th Composite Group, 404th BS) damaged by Japanese AAA and crashed near shore of Kamchatka, Russia Aug 11, 1943, Alaska. MACR 13041. Pilot injured and died in hospital, rest returned." Missing Air Crew Report 13041 (MACR 13041) stated the take off location was Attu Airfield, but unit was based at Amchitka at the time. page 14 states that on September 2 at 15:00 Ring suffered a cerebellar hemorrhage at 15:00 and died, despite showing signs of recovery prior. List of Americans, British, and French military personnel detained by organs of the Ministry of State Security References: "B-24 Aircraft Consolidation Liberator, No 240309, crew names recorded as: PATENGER [sic], FILET [sic], HENNER [sic], VANLESS [sic], HOMITS [sic], RING, DIXON, BEGNOTOVICH [sic], DAY, DIMMEL [sic], BARNES [sic]", Record 6 July 1947 City of Petropavlovsk", "Record 12 July 1947", "Regarding our communication NO. 293789 on December 7, 1946" FindAGrave - Thomas E Ring (grave photo) Thanks to Chris McDermott 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
|
 B-24 |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
