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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 64th BS Former Assignment 380th BG 529th BS    380th BG c1943  389th BG c1944    Richard Leahy 1973 |
Pilot 1st Lt. John E. Terpning, O-685310 (MIA / KIA / BR) Mount Prospect, IL Co-Pilot 2nd Lt William R. Parkinson, O-66907 (MIA / KIA / BR) Norfolk, VA Bombardier 2nd Lt Kermit H. Kinne, O-752337 (MIA / KIA / BR) Barry, IL Navigator 2nd Lt George S. Silverman, O-688116 (MIA / KIA / BR) Long Island, NY Engineer TSgt Sidney H. Branch, 13064865 (MIA / KIA / BR) Richmond, VA Radio SSgt James M. McKain, 33329925 (MIA / KIA / BR) Philadelphia, PA Gunner SSgt Earl R. Pearson, 33409784 (MIA / KIA / BR) North East, PA Asst. Engineer SSgt Ray E. Thompson, 19005820 (MIA / KIA / BR) La Grande, OR Asst. Radio Sgt Richard F. Dixon, 20135813 (MIA / KIA / BR) New Britain, CT Gunner Sgt Michael E. Drucker, 12126135 (MIA / KIA / BR) New York, NY Crashed May 7, 1944 MACR 5664 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego between March 6-17, 1943. Constructors Number 1602. On March 19, 1943 test flown. On March 20, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-65-CO Liberator serial number 42-40525. On March 24, 1943 flown to the Tucson modification center. On April 14, 1943 flown to Long Beach. On April 16, 1943 to Topeka for on further modification between April 20-26. On May 1, 1943 departs Hamilton Field on a ferry flight via Hickam Field across the Pacific arriving May 19, 1943 at Amberly Field near Brisbane. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG), 529th Bombardment Squadron (529th BS) based at Manbullo Airfield. Nicknamed "Toughy" in block bubble letters with an edge shadow on both sides of the nose. Below the cockpit on each side of the nose was a scoreboard with bomb markings with a star above each indicating missions flown. Crew chief was MSgt Bartholemew H. Healy. During late May 1943 until June 1943, this bomber flew six missions during a New Guinea deployment then operated from Fenton Airfield in the Northern Territory of Australia. On August 29, 1943 took off from Fenton Airfield piloted by Thompson with crew no. 15 on bombing mission (FEN II-29) against Babo Airfield. In total, this bomber flew a total of 21 combat missions. White bomb markings were painted below the left cock window indicating missions flown. On December 5, 1943 modified with the installation of nose gun turret by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. During January 1944 assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS) and retained the nickname. On the day of the loss, the original B-24 assigned to this crew had engine trouble and the crew transfered to another B-24 that got stuck in mud and was later pulled out by a Cletrac tractor before take off. When lost, engines R-1830-43 serial numbers 42-36761, 42-65349, 42-36900 and 42-65469. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers (nose) 457346, 457347, (top turret) 457086, 457089, (waist) 457231 (left waist) 457232, (tail) 457339, 457337. Mission History On May 7, 1944 took off off from Nadzab No. 4 Airfield (APO 712, Unit 1) piloted by 1st Lt. John E. Terpning on a bombing mission against Sarmi. As the last bomber to take off twenty-five minutes late, this B-24 attempted to catchup with the formation, but never joined them and was never heard from after take off. When this bomber failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Officially stricken off charge May 8, 1944. Search After this B-24 was reported as missing, a search mission was flown by two B-24s from Nadzab piloted by Lt. Amick and Lt. Russell over the Ramu Valley to Buria roughly ten miles south of Tadji to Wakde Island and return via the northern coast of New Guinea. Near Manam Island, a yellow life raft with a something partially inside the raft was was spotted by Lt. Amick, who made several passes but was unable to determine what it was and reported the find to the rescue service at Saidor. Wreckage During September 1973, the crash site was discovered in the Finisterre Range at an elevation of roughly 2,000' near Kaiapit roughly five nautical miles northwest of Nadzab at approximately Lat 6.22 Long 146.30. Afterwards, the crash site was reported by the Papua New Guinea forestry department to U.S. authorities. Richard Leahy adds: "I visited this site on Sunday, September 16, 1973 and did not take too many details as it had already been reported to authorities, it was at 2,000'. It was discovered not long prior to my trip in to the site. The entire crew were there at the time of my visit. Amazingly it did not either explode or burn. The troops at Nadzab never found it. I do have a set of his photographs and they are OK but not nearly comprehensive enough. The aircraft was badly bent and the photographs only show instrument panel and under the left wing." Recovery of Remains During October 1973, a team from the Australian Army team recovered the remains of the crew and dog tags. Many were still found at their positions. The aircraft was identified by the tail US Army serial number and an identification dataplate. Reportedly, the team detonated the B-24's unexploded bombs on site instead if defusing them. Their detonation further degraded the crash site. The recovered remains were transported to the US Army Central Identification Laboratory (CIL) at Tachikawa and identified as the entire crew then transported to the United States for permanent burial. Afterwards, this cash site was visited at least two more occasions by teams from the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). 1) In 2002, the crash site was again investigated by a team from Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). In 2003, a local observed additional skeletal remains at the crash site and the crash site was again reported it to U.S. authorities. 2) In April 2008, another JPAC follow up mission conducted a month long investigation and recovery at the crash site. This effort recovered additional remains from the wreckage. On January 15, 2013 the Department of Defense (DoD) announced Parkinson was identified using mDNA samples from cousins and dental. On March 23, 2013 the Department of Defense (DoD) announced Terpning was identified using mDNA samples from two Thompson's two female cousins. On April 4, 2013 the Department of Defense (DoD) announced Thompson was identified using mDNA samples from cousins and dental. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After the crew was identified, a rosette was added next to each of their names. On October 18, 1974 after the recovery of remains, the entire crew was buried at Arlington National Cemetery in a group burial at section 30 site 486. Pearson also has a memorial marker at North East Cemetery in North East, PA in section G-N lot 15. After the 2012 identification, Terpning's remains were buried April 3, 2013 in the same burial at Arlington National Cemetery in a group burial at section 30 site 486 After the 2012 identification, Thompson's remains were buried April 10, 2013 at Olney Cemetery in Pendleton, Oregon. After the 2012 identification, Parkinson's remains were cremated and scattered at Crewe Cemetery in Crewe, VA where his parents were buried. Relatives Ed Dixon (nephew of Richard F. Dixon) Daisy Seaman (sister of Thompson) Verla Tomlinson (sister of Thompson) "The Army had declared him dead two years after the crash, but we always had lingering doubts. We weren't sure, but what he was still alive, maybe wandering around not knowing who he was. We knew he was an airplane mechanic, but he didn't want anyone to know he was flying for fear we would worry. They’ve taken all this time, money and effort to make sure families know what happened." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John E. Terpning NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William R. Parkinson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Kermit H. Kinne NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George S. Silverman NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Sidney H. Branch NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James M. Mc Kain surname two words NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Earl R. Pearson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Ray E. Thompson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Michael E. Drucker Individual Aircraft Record Card (IARC) B-24D Liberator 42-40525 USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-65-CO Liberator 42-40525 Missing Air Crew Report 5664 (MACR 5664) created May 11, 1944 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-40525 380th Bomb Group - Aircraft Data Sheet B-24D 42-40525 "Toughy" 380th Bomb Group - Mission Record B-24D 42-40525 "Toughy" King of the Heavies 380th Bomb Group 1942-1945 (1983) page 143, 163 The Best in the Southwest (1995) pages 56, 103 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John E. Terpning American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William R. Parkinson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kermit H. Kinne American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George S. Silverman American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Sidney H. Branch American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James M. McKain American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Earl R. Pearson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ray E. Thompson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard F. Dixon American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Michael E. Drucker FindAGrave - 1Lt. John E. Terpning (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - John E. Terpning (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt. Kermit H. Kinne (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Kermit H. Kinne (group burial photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt. William Riddick Parkinson (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt. William Riddick Parkinson (photo, group burial photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt. George S. Silverman (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - George S. Silverman (group burial photo) FindAGrave - T/Sgt. Sidney H. Branch (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sidney H. Branch (group burial photo) FindAGrave - S/Sgt. James M. McKain (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - James M. McKain (group burial photo) FindAGrave - S/Sgt. Earl Raymond Pearson (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Earl R. Pearson (photo, group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Earl Raymond Pearson (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - S/Sgt. Ray Eugene Thompson (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Ray E. Thompson (group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Ray Eugene Thompson (Olney Cemetery photo) FindAGrave - Sgt. Richard F. Dixon (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Richard F. Dixon (photo, group burial photo) FindAGrave - Sgt. Michael E. Drucker (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt. Michael E. Drucker (photo, group burial photo) DPAA News Release - Soldier Missing In Action From WWII Identified (Parkinson) January 15, 2013 DPAA News Release - WWII Soldier Identified (Terpning) March 28, 2013 DPAA News Release - WWII Soldier Identified (Thompson) April 4, 2013 Union Bulletin "Seven decades after disappearance, WWII airman to be buried" by Kathy Aney March 16, 2013 Ken’s Men Against The Empire The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume II: October 1943 to 1945 B-24 Era (2019) pages 116-117 (May 7, 1944), 357 (May 7, 1944 crew list), 373 (42-40525, 64th BS), 461 (index Toughy) Thanks to Richard 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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