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| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 321st BS  321st BS 1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Hampton E. Rich, O-387548 (MIA / KIA) Clinton County, IA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Albert J. Lavedan, O-674499 (MIA / KIA) NY Bombardier 2nd Lt Frank M. Moss, O-669377 (MIA / KIA) Slaton, TX Navigator 2nd Lt Joseph Rothenberg, O-731332 (MIA / KIA) NY Engineer TSgt Robert A. Perry, 33182916 (MIA / KIA) Minneapolis, MN Radio TSgt Ellis G. Thomas, 34425389 (MIA / KIA) Warren County, MS Gunner TSgt Marvin I. Ivie, 39682160 (MIA / KIA) UT Gunner SSgt Eldon M. Flugge, 36263284 (MIA / KIA) IA Gunner SSgt Earl T. Post, 16013093 (MIA / KIA) Midland, MI Gunner SSgt William H. Bowen, 39533815 (MIA / KIA) Santa Barbara County, CA Ditched October 12, 1943 at 12:51pm MACR 805 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 1671. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-75-CO Liberator serial number 42-40594. Ferried overseas 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) "Bombs Away". Nicknamed "Pistol Packin' Mama" in block letters with a black shadow with the nose art of a woman wearing a cowboy hat, belt, and vest leaning on a wooden ledge and holding a holding a six shooter pistol. The nose art based on the pin up artwork "Keep your hands up stranger". When lost, engines R1830-43 serial numbers 42-62529, 42-62458, 42-62564 and 42-62820. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers listed in Missing Air Crew Report 805 (MACR 805). Mission History On October 12, 1943 took off from 5-Mile Drome (Wards) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Hampton E. Rich on a bombing mission against Rabaul. The weather was broken clouds with visibility of roughly 30 miles. Over the target, the squadron bombed Toboi docks and a docked ship with others bombing another vessel and claimed a direct hit and several near misses while others bombed another ship. After the bomb run, intercepted by roughly 20 Japanese fighters including Zeros and Oscars that made roughly 30 passes. The squadron claimed four shot down including a twin engine bomber. This B-24 was likely damaged by fighters and was observed to ditch east of Wide Bay at roughly Lat 05.05 Long 152.35. Five Zeros followed the bomber down and continued to make strafing runs on the bomber after it ditched. The B-24 remained a float for roughly 45 seconds before it sank. When this B-24 failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). 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. Rich earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Lavedan earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Moss earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Rothenberg earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, posthumously. Perry earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Thomas earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Vicksburg, MS at Div. D, Square 43, Lot 6. Ivie earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Memory Grove Memorial in Salt Lake City, UT. He also has a memorial marker at East Side Cemetery in Salina, UT at CD9-2-2. Flugge He also has a memorial marker at Northern Wisconsin Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Spooner, WI at CD, 13. Post He also has a memorial marker at Midland City Cemetery in Midland, MI. Bowen earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Albert J. Lavedan NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Frank M. Moss NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Joseph Rothenberg NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert A. Perry NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Ellis G. Thomas NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Marvin I. Ivie NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Eldon M. Flugge NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Earl T. Post USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-75-CO Liberator 42-40594 Missing Air Crew Report 805 (MACR 805) created October 12, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Hampton E. Rich American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Albert J. Lavedan American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank M. Moss American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph Rothenberg American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert A. Perry American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ellis G. Thomas American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Marvin I. Ivie American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Eldon M. Flugge American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Earl T. Post American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William H. Bowen FindAGrave - 1Lt Hampton E Rich (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Albert J Lavedan (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Francis Morton “Frank” Moss (photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Joseph Rothenberg (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSGT Robert Alfred Perry (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Ellis G Thomas (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Ellis George Thomas (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSGT Marvin I Ivie (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - TSgt Marvin I Ivie (Memory Grove Memorial memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSGT Marvin Ira Ivie (East Side Cemetery memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Eldon M Flugge (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSGT Eldon M. Flugge (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Earl T Post (tablets of the missing) FindGrave - Earl T. Post (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt William H Bowen (tablets of the missing photo) Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group (1994) pages 82-83 (October 12, 1943), 85 (map) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated July 17, 2025
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