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| USAAF 13th AF 868th BS    USAAF c1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Wilmer B. Haynes, O-801330 (MIA / KIA) Atlanta, GA Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Charles R. Bowden, O-801823 (MIA / KIA) Cadiz, OH Navigator 1st Lt. Gerard R. Westerland, O-801047 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Bombardier 1st Lt. Charles F. Ames Jr., O-662233 (MIA / KIA) CT Engineer TSgt John H. Terpstra, 12031295 (MIA / KIA) NY Asst. Engineer SSgt Fred E. Preye, 12038503 (MIA / KIA) NJ Radio TSgt Yale A. Esrock, 37380389 (MIA / KIA) MS Radar SSgt Robert L. Beatty, 33205925 (MIA / KIA) MD Radar SSgt Thomas J. Peden Jr., 32435216 (MIA / KIA) Brooklyn, NY Gunner SSgt Rudolph H. Whittschack, 32310402 (MIA / KIA) NY MIA June 26, 1944 MACR 7181 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 1915. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-105-CO Liberator serial number 42-40838. Converted into a radar equipped SB-24 Liberator for use on night "snooper" missions. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 868th Bombardment Squadron (868th BS) "Snooper Squadron". Nicknamed "Madame Libby The Sea Ducer" with the nose art of a mermaid with one hand above her head and one hand on her hip on both the left and right sides of the nose. On the right side of the nose below the cockpit was a scoreboard with yellow bombs indicating missions flown. When lost, engines R-1830-43 serial numbers 41-15020, 42-42990, 42-4003 and 42-48978. Weapon serial numbers noted in Missing Air Crew Report 7181. Mission History On June 25, 1944 took off from Mokerang Airfield on Los Negros on a radar "snooper" mission against Truk. Weather was good with visibility of 5-10 miles. During the mission, this bomber made four radio reports with weather and their position. The last report from this bomber was on June 26, 1944 at 2:26am received by Pvt Arthur G. Juley noting their position as Lat 5° 48' N Long 151° 12' E. When this bomber failed to return, the entire crew was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 20, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-105-CO Liberator 42-40838 "40838 (868th BS) lost Jun 26, 1944. MACR 7181. Operated directly under auspices of 13th AF HQ, carrying out classified missions, and did not have a group assignment" Missing Air Crew Report 7181 (MACR 7181) American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) -Wilmer B. Haynes American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Charles R. Bowden American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Gerard R. Westerland American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Charles F. Ames Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - John H. Terpstra American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Fred E. Preye American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) -Yale A. Esrock American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Robert L. Beatty American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Thomas J. Peden Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Rudolph H. Whittschack FindAGrave - 1Lt Wilmer B Haynes (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Charles R Bowden (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1Lt Gerard R Westerland (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Charles F Ames, Jr (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - TSgt John H Terpstra (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Fred E Preye (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - TSgt Yale A Esrock (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Robert L Beatty (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Thomas J Peden, Jr (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Rudolph H Whittschack (tablets of the missing) 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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