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| USAAF 5th AF 380th BG 530th BS   J.H. Meyers c1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt Phil Doornbos (WIA, survived) Crew SSgt Wilton E. Burris, 20464072 (KIA, BR) Smithdale, MS Crew TSgt Wallace E. Johnson, 37162408 (MIA / KIA) Smithdale, MS Ditched June 15, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego between March 8, 1943 to March 18, 1943. Constructors Number 1605. Project Number: 96082. On March 20, 1943 first test flight. On March 22, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-70-CO Liberator serial number 42-40528. On March 27, 1943 flown to the modification center in Tucson, AZ. On April 26, 1943 flown to Hamilton Field. On May 1, 1943 departs on a ferry flight via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia arriving on May 8, 1943 at Amberley Field near Brisbane. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG), 530th Bombardment Squadron (530th BS). Nicknamed "Dauntless Dabbie" with the nose art of a reclining woman wearing sunglasses and laying on a towel. Assigned to crew number 26 with crew chief MSgt William V. Clarke. This B-24 flew at least five combat missions before being lost. Flown to Port Moresby for the group's "New Guinea Deployment". Mission History On June 15, 1943 took off from Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt Phil Doornbos on a bombing mission against shipping in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. Returning, this B-24 suffered a mid-air collision with B-24D "Kathy" 42-40517. Damaged, this B-24 ditched into Teak Bay near Rigo on the southern coast of New Guinea. During the ditching, the pilot Doornbos was injured and two of the crew were killed: Burris (KIA) and Johnson (MIA). The rest of the crew survived unhurt. Officially, written off on October 31, 1944. Recovery of Remains Johnson was never located and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Burris was recovered and buried in New Guinea. Postwar, his remains were transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials Johnson was officially declared dead the day of the mission and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Johnson is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Johnson was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is buried at Mars Hill Cemetery in Mars Hill, MS. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Wallace E. Johnson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Wilton E.. Burris 380th BG Association - B-24D "Dauntless Dabbie" 42-40528 - Data Sheet 380th BG Association - B-24D "Dauntless Dabbie" 42-40528 - Mission Record American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wallace R. Johnson FindAGrave - TSGT Wallace R Johnson (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Wilton Enoch Burris (grave photo) 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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 B-24  MIA 1 Missing |
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