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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 64th BS  U.S. Army July 11, 1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt Walter C. Hammond, O-793325 (KIA, BR) Queens, NY Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Robert F. Johnston (KIA, BR) Dade County, FL Bombardier 2nd Lt Harry C. Shannon (KIA, BR) Brookline, PA Navigator 2nd Lt. Arthur M. Zuckerman (KIA, BR) Radio TSgt William E. Guinn (KIA, BR) Bradley County, TN Engineer TSgt Hartsill C. Rasor (KIA, BR) OK Assistant Radio SSgt Glenn Edward Sletten, 14075911 (KIA, BR) Willmar Township, MN Assistant Engineer SSgt Dominick T. Rossi (KIA, BR) NY Gunner SSgt Jeremiah S. Connolly, 16004644 (KIA, BR) Chicago, IL Gunner SSgt Daniel M. Costello (KIA, BR) Cincinnati, OH Crashed July 11, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 1748. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-85-CO Liberator serial number 42-40671. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia arriving May 28, 1943. Wartime History During July 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) "Ken's Men", 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS). Assigned to pilot 1st Lt Walter C. Hammond. Nicknamed "Double Trouble". Mission History On July 11, 1943 at 1:45am took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt Walter C. Hammond on as one of four B-24s (including three from the 64th BS) on a night bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. The entire crew had arrived in theater less than a month earlier. Roughly 20 minutes into the flight, this bomber experienced mechanical problems and aborted the mission and returned to base. Returning around 2:00am, At an altitude of 2,000' B-24 unexpectedly from 2,000' entered a spin and crashed into an open area near the Rigo Valley between 17 Mile and the 2/9 Australian General Hospital (AGH). On impact, two of the 1,000 pound bombs detonated with the explosion felt in nearby camp areas. The entire crew was killed in the crash and debris was scattered over a wide area spanning several hundred yards. Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of the crew were recovered and temporarily buried in Port Moresby. Postwar, the remains of the crew were transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Hammond is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, NY at plot H, grave 7877. Johnston was buried June 8, 1948 at Arlington National Cemetery at section 12, grave 4756. Shannon was buried on March 26, 1948 at Union Dale Cemetery in Pittsburgh, PA at Division 3, section N. Zuckerman was buried June 3, 1948 at Golden Gate National Cemetery at plot C, row 0, grave 46. Guinn is buried at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Blue Springs, TN in the old section. Rasor is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot F, grave 126. Sletten is buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Gulfport, Mississippi at plot Evergreen Cemetery. Rossi is buried at buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot B grave 352. Connolly was buried March 28, 1949 at Arlington National Cemetery at section 34 site 3996. Costello is buried at Saint Joseph New Cemetery in Cincinnati, OH at section 25, range 3, lot 25. References Some sources list assistant radio operater as Glenn E. Sletten [sic Sletten] World War II Army Enlistment Records - Walter C. Hammond World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert F. Johnston World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harry C. Shannon World War II Army Enlistment Records - Arthur M. Zuckerman World War II Army Enlistment Records - Hartsill C. Rasor World War II Army Enlistment Records - Glenn E. Sletten World War II Army Enlistment Records - Jeremiah S. Connolly USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-85-CO Liberator 42-40671 History 43rd Bombardment Group, serial number confirmed frame 632 A0556 History 8th Service Group "crashed near 101st CAA at Fort Nub missing Arcadia Hill near old Death Valley." PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-40671 Accident Report B-24D Liberator 42-40671 FindAGrave - Walter C Hammond (grave photo) Arlington National Cemetery ANC Explorer - Robert F Johnston (grave photos) FindAGrave - Robert F Johnston (grave photo) FindAGrave - LTJG Harry C. Shannon (grave photo, obituary) The Pittsburgh Press "Obituary Lt. Harry C. Shannon" March 26, 1948, page 27 FindAGrave - Arthur M Zuckerman (grave photos) FindAGrave - William E. Guinn (grave photos) FindAGrave - Sgt Hartsill C Rasor (grave photo) FindAGrave - Glenn Edward Sletten (grave photo) FindAGrave - Dominick T Rossi (grave photo) Arlington National Cemetery ANC Explorer - Jeremiah S. Connolly (grave photos) FindAGrave - Jeremiah S Connolly (grave photo) FindAGrave - Daniel M. Costello (grave photo) KensMen.com - Looking for a Lost Crewmate? - Crew of Double Trouble Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume 1 (2019) pages 242-243 (July 11, 1943 mission, photo), 319-320 (Appendix II: July 11, 1943 crew KIA), 325, 349, index does not list Double Troube 42-40671 Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume II (2019) pages 372, 444 (index Double Trouble 64th BS) 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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