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| USAAF 5th AF 380th BG 531st BS  380th BG 1943 |
Pilot Captain Paul G. Smith, O-433417 C. O. 531st BS (MIA / KIA) Oklahoma City, OK Co-Pilot 1st Lt Theron A. Dreier, O-728612 (MIA / KIA) Osocola, NB Crew 2nd Lt Clarence V. Hartman, O-733565 (MIA / KIA) Rosedale, IN Crew 2nd Lt John H. Larson, O-736011 (MIA / KIA) IN Crew 2nd Lt Ronald L. Orton, O-736320 (MIA / KIA) St. Paul, MN Crew M/Sgt Edgar K. Crislip, 15013380 (MIA / KIA) Athens, OH Crew T/Sgt Gary D. Delp, 39173438 (MIA / KIA) MT Crew T/Sgt Bernard L. Wright, 35357777 (MIA / KIA) Whitestown, IN Crew S/Sgt Joseph C. Aylward, 37113270 (MIA / KIA) Emmetsburg, IA Crew Pvt Thomas E. Falltrick, 6583561 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA Crew Pvt Earl C. Kilduff, 6564078 (MIA / KIA) WA MIA June 11, 1943 MACR 15884 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego during March 6-18, 1943. Constructors Number 1604. On March 19, 1943 first test flight. On March 22, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-65-CO Liberator serial number 42-40527. On March 25, 1943 flown to the modification center at Tuscon, AZ. On April 21, 1943 flown to a staging base at Topeka, KS. On May 5, 1943 took off from Hamilton Field on a ferry flight via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Amberly Field near Brisbane arriving May 11, 1943. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG) "The Flying Circus", 531st Bombardment Squadron (531st BS). Nicknamed "The Leila Belle" with the nose art of a woman laying on a sofa. This bomber was temporarily assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) to fly bombing missions in New Guinea and flew at least three missions before it was lost. Mission History On June 11, 1943 at night took off from Dobodura Airfield piloted by Captain Paul G. Smith as part of a formation three B-24s from the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) on a bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. Flying via Cape Ward Hunt, the formation experienced bad weather and instead diverted to bomb Gasmata Airfield. When this bomber failed to return it was officially decleared Missing In Action (MIA). It is believed that this aircraft was one of the B-24s that bombed Gasmata Airfield. A bomber, believed to be this plane was tracked on a southerly course over the Milne Bay area to about 50 miles south of Milne Bay. Afterwards, officially stricken from charge on June 12, 1943. In fact, this B-24 was intercepted by J1N1 Irving night fighter piloted by Shigetoshi Kudo from 251 Kokutai (251 Air Group) that shot down the bomber using his upward firing 20mm cannons. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on January 8, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Smith earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is also memorialized at Fairlawn Cemetery in Oklahoma City, OK. Dreier earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is also memorialized at Greenwood Cemetery in York, NB. Hartman earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is also memorialized at Roselawn Memorial Park in Terre Haute, IN at section C. Larson earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Orton earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Crislip earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Delp earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Wright earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is also memorialized at Spencer Cemetery in Sheridan, IN. Aylward earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Falltrick earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Kilduff earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Wreckage Since the 1970s, this wreck was listed on the "Port Moresby Log" as lost near Basilaki Island. References Other sources list this B-24 as shot down off coast of New Britain during the night of June 11-12, 1943. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edgar K. Crislip NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Bernard L. Wright Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 15884 was created retroactively, list the target as Vunakanau and last seen "near Rabaul, New Britain" Kodochosho, 251 Kōkūtai, June 11, 1943 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-40527 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Paul G. Smith American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Theron A. Dreier American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Clarence V. Hartman American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John H. Larson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ronald L. Orton American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edgar K. Crislip American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gary D. Delp American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Bernard L. Wright American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph C. Aylward American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas E. Falltrick American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Earl C. Kilduff 380th Bomb Group Association - B-24D "The Leila Belle" 42-40527 Data Sheet 380th Bomb Group Association - B-24D "The Leila Belle" 42-40527 Mission Record FindAGrave - Capt Paul Glendon Smith (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Theron A. Dreier (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Clarence Victor Hartman (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Ronald G Orton FindAGrave - Bernard Lamar "Johnny" Wright (memorial marker photo) The Best in the Southwest (1995) page 33 (July 11, 1943) The Jolly Rogers (1981) page 64 (July 11, 1943) Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume 1 (2016) page 203 (June 11, 1943) Thanks to Osamu Tagaya for additional informaton 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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