Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-105-CO Liberator serial number 42-40838. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field to the South Pacific.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 13th Air Force, 868th Bombardment Squadron as a SB-24 Liberator. 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 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
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)

Last Updated
February 18, 2020