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| USAAF 13th AF 307th BG 424th BS Former Assignments 5th BG 72nd BS         Jeff Johnson 1997  John Laird 2003 |
Pilot 2nd Lt Raymond W. Price (KIA, BR) Columbus, OH Crew 2nd Lt Thomas L. McConnell, O-736281 (KIA, BR) Wichita, KS Crew 2nd Lt Arnold H. Recknagel, O-667430 (KIA, BR) MI Crew 2nd Lt Louis Z. Orihuela (KIA, BR) Tampa, FL Crew 2nd Lt James L. Taylor (KIA, BR) Crew TSgt Dayle C. Potter, 16028767 (KIA, BR) IL Crew Sgt Emery E. Jacaway, 16054655 (KIA, BR) IL Radio/Gunner Sgt Warren S. Ryan (KIA, BR) Milwaukee, WI Crew SSgt Delvan E. Hazelrigg, 424th BS (KIA, BR) Macon, IL Crew Pvt William Rothman (KIA, BR) NY Crew Pvt Peter J. Tenorella (KIA, BR) Crashed July 10, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego using funds F-1, order number AC-24620 at a cost of $297,627.00. Constructors Number 1723. On April 14, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-80-CO Liberator Serial Number 42-40646. Ferried overseas to the South Pacific (SOPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG), 72nd Bombardment Squadron. Later, assigned to the 307th Bombardment Group (307th BG) "Long Rangers", 424th Bombardment Squadron (424th BS). Nicknamed "Alley Cat". Mission History On July 10, 1943 took off from Carney Field (Bomber 2) on Guadalcanal on a bombing mission against Kahili on Bougainville. Returning from the mission, an American radar operator at Cape Esperance reported a large plane was tracked four miles inland then disappeared. For reasons unknown, this B-24 crashed onto a ridge inland from Cape Esperance, killing the entire crew on impact. This B-24 was officially condemned on December 1, 1943. Search The next morning, Fred McConnell and Edwin "Ed" McConnell of the 424th Bombardment Squadron (424th BS) searched from an altitude of 1,500' and spotted the wreckage of a B-24 in a ravine inland from Yenton Point on Cape Esperance. The position of the crash indicated that the bomber was approaching from the sea (flying north to south). Recovery of Remains After the crash site was located, a U.S. team recovered the remains of the crew. The crash site of this B-24 remains but has been scattered down the mountain by landslides and erosion. During 1997, rediscovered with the U.S. star and tail serial number "240646" clearly visible on the tail. Jeff Johnson visited the site in 1997 and reports: "While I was at the Vila War Museum, the curator, told of us a 'B-17' that had recently been found. He offered to take us there for $50. As it was a long hike, we set out early the next morning. We started on a grassy plain and started up a jungle trail alongside a small stream at the base of the ridge. The first thing we saw was a crumpled supercharger from one of the engines about 2500 feet away from the main crash site. It appeared that the rains had flushed a number of parts down the ridge and some pieces had been thrown clear on the initial impact. As we hiked up a 50 to 70 degree incline for the next hour, we saw various pieces of fuselage. We then ran across one of the landing gear. We finally reached the site and saw a large piece of fuselage, the waist section, pointed straight down into the ground. There was numerous live .50 cal rounds scattered about. You could still make out the American star on the port side. A little further away was a number of bent propeller blades and the tail section. On this tail section in yellow letters about 5 inches high was the number '240640'. After rummaging around, we found a single .50 cal machine gun in a very rusted state without the barrel. Sections of wing and the elevators were also about. It was a great experience and the highlight of my sail across the South Pacific." During the 2003, RAMSI operations, Australian Defense Force soldiers visited the crash site. They recovered one 50 caliber machine gun from the site and transported it to GBR at Honiara. Later, it was donated to the Solomon Islands Museum. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. They were buried at the American Cemetery Guadalcanal until the end of the Pacific War. Postwar, their remains were transported to the United States for permanent burial. Three of the crew are buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). McConnell at section B, site 1195. Recknagel at section B, site 652. Jacaway at section N, site 65. Price is buried at Green Lawn Cemetery in Columbus, OH. He also has a memorial marker at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Columbus, OH at HC-H-6 1/2. Orihuela is buried at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL at section 20 site 5. Taylor is buried at Willow Dale Cemetery in Goldsboro, NC at plot section 1. Potter is buried at Fairfield Cemetery in Newman, IL. He also has a memorial marker at Woodlawn Cemetery in Urbana, IL. Ryan is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield, MI at section 27. Hazelrigg is buried at Graceland Cemetery in Decatur, IL. Rothman is buried at Long Island National Cemetery at section H, site 8316. Tenorella has an unknown burial likely in his hometown. Relatives Fred McConnell (brother of McConnell) Edwin "Ed" McConnell (brother of McConnell) References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-80-CO Liberator 42-40646 Diary of Oscar C. Fitzhenry - July 11, 1943 "Price (307th) and crew were reported killed last night / one plane crashed Mt., July 9 [sic, July 10] - all crew killed (Price and crew)" NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Raymond W. Price NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Arnold H. Recknagel NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Louis Orihuela NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Dayle C. Potter NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Emery E. Jacaway NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Delvan E. Hazelrigg The Long Rangers: A Diary of the 307th Bombardment Group (H) Wichita State University Libraries Special Collections - McConnell Air Force Base, McConnell Brothers [PDF] FindAGrave - Raymond W Price (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Raymond W Price (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Thomas Luverne McConnell (photos, news, grave photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Arnold H Recknagel (grave photo) FindAGrave - Louis Orihuela (grave photo) FindAGrave - James L. Taylor FindAGrave - Dayle C Potter (Fairfield Cemetery photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Dayle C. Potter (grave photo) FindAGrave - SGT Emery E Jacaway (grave photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Warren A Ryan (grave photo) FindAGrave - Delvan E Hazelrigg (grave photo) FindAGrave - William Rothman (grave photo) Kansas Air Museum - The McConnell brothers display Thanks to Oscar C. Fitzhenry and Jeff Johnson 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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