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| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 321st BS   USAAF May 7, 1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt Jindrich "Henry" L. Chovanec, O-437926 (MIA / KIA, BR) TX Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Henry C. Hansen, O-663261 (MIA / KIA, BR) CA Navigator 2nd Lt Eugene B. Brown Jr., O-728334 (MIA / KIA, BR) Santa Barbara, CA Bombardier 2nd Lt Edwin B. Smith, O-730979 (MIA / KIA, BR) Pointe Coupee, LA Crew T/Sgt Clarence W. Boyer, 19063174 (MIA / KIA, BR) Los Angeles, CA Crew T/Sgt William C. Lowther, 15073206 (MIA / KIA, BR) Crew S/Sgt Robert P. Nix, 36350512 (MIA / KIA, BR) IL Crew S/Sgt Ernest E. Hansen, 36183066 (MIA / KIA, BR) MI Crew S/Sgt Robert A. Ratliff, 17033833 (MIA / KIA, BR) MO Crew Cpl Chester O. Coggin, 36054268 (MIA / KIA, BR) Tail Gunner S/Sgt Henry C. Simons, 34266381 (MIA / KIA, BR) Crawford, GA Passenger F/Lt Leigh Grant "Lee" Vial, RAAF 253939 (MIA / KIA, BR) East St. Kilda, VIC Crashed April 30, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego completed February 23, 1943. Constructors Number 1429. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-53-CO Liberator serial number 42-40352. On March 30, 1943 departs Long Beach on a ferry flight via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG), 321st Bombardment Squadron (321st BS). No known nickname or nose art. This bomber flew bombing missions over New Guinea. Mission History On April 30, 1943 at 8:00am took off from 5 Mile Drome (Wards) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt Jindrich "Henry" L. Chovanec armed with 500 pound bombs on a reconnaissance and bombing mission over New Guinea. Aboard was a passenger from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F/Lt Leigh Grant “Lee” Vial who was a liaison officer assigned to the 5th Air Force. When this bomber failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, this B-24 crashed in the Highlands in the vicinity of Negifi, roughly 16 miles south of Bena Bena. Search After the crash, search aircraft searched for the missing bomber. Several days later, the wreckage of this B-24 was spotted from the air. Afterwards, General Ennis Whitehead ordered a U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) search party to locate the wreckage and investigate the cause of the crash. The investigation was tasked to Major Edward T. Imparato plus Lt. Bill Brady, Lewis Lock, Paul Reed and John "Mac" McGovern. After being flown by C-47 Dakota to Bena Bena Airfield, they were augmented by Australians from ANGAU Jack Elston and Gill Timms departed from Sigoiya near Bena Bena on May 1, 1943 and trekked to the crash site arriving on May 7, 1943. Wreckage On May 7, 1943 the team located the crash site and investigated the cause of the crash. It was believed this B-24 impacted near perpendicular to the ground. Before the crash, the tail section broke off and landed roughly a mile away. Recovery of Remains At the crash site, the team recovered the remains of the crew, believed to be ten of the twelve individuals. The recovered remains were buried at the crash site and a memorial service conducted. Later, the remains were exhumed for permanent burial in New Guinea, the Philippines and United States. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After the recovery of remains, the Americans were transported to the Philippines and United States for permenant burial. Postwar, the American crew members were transported to Philippines and the United States for permanent burial. Chovanec is buried at Fayetteville Catholic Cemetery, Fayette County, TX. Hansen earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot L Row 5 Grave 31. Brown is buried at Santa Barbara Cemetery in Santa Barbara, CA in the Ocean View Triangle plot area Smith is buried at the Wintergreen Cemetery in Port Gibson, MS. Boyer is buried at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Inglewood, CA. Lowther is buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Canton, OH at Woodlawn Facing West Row 11. Nix earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot A Row 15 Grave 155. Hansen earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot N Row 9 Grave 200. Ratliff earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot A Row 2 Grave 110. Coggin is buried at Elmwood Cemetery , Flora IL. He is also honored at the World War II Memorial in Flora, IL. Simons is buried at Sandy Cross Baptist Church Cemetery in GA. Australian Vial was permanently buried at Lae War Cemetery at D. D. 9. Relatives Sallie S. Crawford (sister of Simons) References Aircraft Serial Number Search - B-24D-53-CO Liberator 42-40352 "40352 (90th BG, 321st BS) crashed in Bena Bena Apr 30, 1943." FindAGrave - Henry L Chovanec (grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Henry C. Hansen FindAGrave - 2Lt Henry Hansen (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Eugene B Brown (grave photo) FindAGrave - Edwin B Smith (grave photo) FindAGrave - Clarence William Boyer (grave photo) FindAGrave - William C Lowther (Forest Hill Cemetery grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert P. Nix FindAGrave - SSgt Robert P Nix (photo, Manila American Cemetery grave) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ernest E. Hansen FindAGrave - SSgt Ernest E Hansen (Manila American Cemetery, photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert A. Ratliff FindAGrave - SSgt Robert A Ratliff (Manila American Cemetery, photo) FindAGrave - Chester O. Coggin (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Henry Claude Simons date of death incorrectly listed as April 23, 1943 RAAF Casualty File, FltLt Vail CWGC - Leigh Grant Vial, 253939 FindAGrave - Flight Lieutenant Leigh Grant “Lee” Vial (photo, news, Lae War Cemetery) RAAFA Aviation Heritage Museum - Leigh Grant “Lee” Vial PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-40352 (incorrectly lists nickname as "Czechem") Into Darkness (1995) by Edward Imparato details a trek to this aircraft Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group "The Jolly Rogers" (1994) page 196 Thanks to Daniel Leahy 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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