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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 64th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Stephen W. Blount, III, O-661181 (WIA, survived) Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Julian J. Petty (WIA, survived) Bombardier 1st Lt Jack D. Ganz, O-419770 (MIA / KIA) IL Navigator 2nd Lt John E. Wagner, O-734765 (MIA / KIA) IA Engineer T/Sgt Jack R. Myers, 15019872 (MIA / KIA) OH Radio T/Sgt Lawrence A. Ommundsen, 32279311 (MIA / KIA) NJ Crew S/Sgt Delray B. Echohawk, 38088034 (WIA, survived) OK Crew S/Sgt Clayton L. Landon, 37383109 (WIA, survived) Crew T/Sgt Alvin K. Hartley, 17016791 (KIA, BR) IL Crew S/Sgt Sequoyah J. Downing, 18128575 (KIA, BR) Mayes County, OK Gunner S/Sgt Donald W. Ham, 39832194 (MIA / KIA) IA Ditched October 18, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 1747. On April 19, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-85-CO Liberator serial number 42-40670. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia arriving June 14, 1943. Wartime History During August 1943, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS). Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Stephen W. Blount, III. Nicknamed "Ben Buzzard" inside double quotation marks in dark capital letters with a white outline. Between the two words was the nose art of a buzzard bird wearing a top hat. Mission History On October 18, 1943 around 6:45am took off from 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Stephen W. Blount, III on bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. Aboard this bomber was a mixed crew of personnel who did not normally fly together. One was an observer, to earn combat hours so he could earn leave time. The formation was of mix of Liberators including thirty-eight B-24s from 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) including ten attached from 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG) plus B-24s from the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG). They were to be joined by B-25D Mitchells from Dobodura and escorted by P-38 Lightnings from Kiriwina Airfield. As the formation passed Kiriwina Island, the planes encountered a large storm front. As they flew into the clouds, the formation broke up and most of the bombers aborted the mission and turned for home. Unable to reach the primary target, 1st Lt. Stephen W. Blount, III in this bomber lead a total of thirteen B-24s including eight from the 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS) and five from the 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS) to secondary target and successfully bombed Hoskins Airfield. Returning, the bombers continued to experience bad weather. Over the Owen Stanley Range, this B-24 developed a fuel leak in the left wing and ran out of gas short of 7 Mile Drome and instead ditched into Bootless Bay skidding across the surface several hundred yards then flipped over and broke into two pieces when the nose hit a submerged obstruction. In the crash, seven of the crew died or drown while trapped inside the plane including Ganz, Wagner, Myers, Omundsen, Downing, Ham and Hartley. Also lost was B-24D "Sky Lady" 41-24043, B-24D 42-40885 pilot Nelson (crew rescued) and B-24D 41-41088. Fates of the Crew Four of the crew sustained injuries but survived the crash: Blount, Petty, Echohawk and Landon. Escaping the wreckage, Cherokee Indian Delray B. Echohawk pulled Landon free saving his life. Ashore, two Australian Army enlisted men witnessed the crash and and used an outrigger canoe to paddle out to the crashed bomber to help the survivors reach shore. Afterwards, all four were taken to the hospital for treatment Recovery of Remains The next day, the remains of Hartley and Downing were found in the wreckage and buried in New Guinea. Postwar, their remains were transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials Echohawk a Cherokee Indian was recommended for the Silver Star for saving Landon. Ganz earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Ganz is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Ham earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He was officially declared dead the day of the mission and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Ham is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Myers earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He was officially declared dead the day of the mission and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Myers is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Wagner earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He was officially declared dead the day of the mission and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wagner is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Ommundsen earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He was officially declared dead the day of the mission and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Ommundsen is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Hartley was buried at National Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section A site 1056. Downing was seven-eighths Cherokee Indian. He was buried on June 16, 1948 at Hogan Cemetery in Locust Grove, OK. Echohawk earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Soldier's Medal, Bronze Star, Air Medal and Purple Heart. Postwar, he continued in the U.S. Air Force (USAF). He passed away on December 20, 1970 at age 50 and is buried at Highland Cemetery at gate 4-5 Veterans Section. Blount passed away on January 20, 2006 at age 84. He is buried at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleum in San Antonio, TX. Wreckage The wreckage of this bomber remains in shallow water in Bootless Bay. The left wing is against the reef at a depth of 1m / 3'. The right wing is at a depth of 9m / 29.5'. The fuselage is broken in half behind the wings, and the rear is missing. Inside the fuselage is filled with silt and debris. One machine gun is visible. Visibility on the wreck is almost zero due to its proximity to shore. Crew S/Sgt Clayton L. Landon, 37383109 (WIA, survived) Crew S/Sgt Sequoyah J. Downing, 18128575 (KIA, BNR) Mayes County, OK References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-85-CO Liberator 42-40670 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-40670 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jack D. Ganz American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald W. Ham American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jack R. Myers American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John E. Wagner American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lawrence A. Ommundsen FindAGrave - 1Lt Jack David Ganz (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSGT Donald W Ham (tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - TSGT Jack Ray Myers (photo, tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - 2Lt John E Wagner (tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - TSgt Lawrence A Ommundsen (tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - Alvin Kenneth Hartley (grave photo) FindAGrave - Sequoyah J Downing (obituary, grave photo) FindAGrave - Delray B Echohawk (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Stephen William Blount III (photo, grave photo) Wrecks & Reefs (1994) pages 128-129 Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume I (2020) pages 305-314 (October 18, 1943), 305 (photo), 307 (diagram), 332 (October 13, 1943 crew losses), 396 (index Blount) Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume II (2019) pages 372 (64th BS, 42-40670) 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  S 9 29E 147 15  1-9m 3-30'  MIA5 Missing |
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