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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 403rd BS  43rd BG 1943  Christianson 1943 |
Pilot Captain Hughie R. "Slim" Bonner, O-789366 (MIA / KIA) Coffeeville, MS Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Royal R. Baumgartner, O-532939 (MIA / KIA) Philadelphia, PA Navigator 2nd Lt Edward B. Tucker, O-804901 (MIA / KIA) College Park, GA Bombardier 2nd Lt Angelo J. Lavalle, O-669332 (MIA / KIA) Jamestown, NY Engineer TSgt Michael P. Elphingstone, 18064900 (MIA / KIA) Dallas, TX Gunner SSgt Ross D. Burd, 17038346 (MIA / KIA) Elk Horn, IA Radio SSgt Elbert L. Hutto, 18061874 (MIA / KIA) Goose Creek, TX Asst Radio SSgt Coleman P. Butler Jr., 17020670 (MIA / KIA) Kansas City, KS Asst Engineer SSgt Robert "Bobby" P. Moeller, 17038163 (MIA / KIA) Walthill, NE Gunner SSgt Lloyd R. Tamblingson, 36276498 (MIA / KIA) Milwaukee, WI Crashed October 13, 1943 MACR 808 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated. Constructors Number 2011. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-115-CO Liberator serial number 42-40934. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field across the Pacific to Australia arriving July 31, 1943. Wartime History During August 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 403rd Bombardment Squadron (403rd BS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines R1830-42 serial numbers 42-87669, 42-87346, 42-62741 and 42-87535. Armed with eleven .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers not noted in Missing Air Crew Report 808 (MACR 808). Mission History On October 13, 1943 took off from 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby piloted by Captain Hughie R. Bonner on a bombing mission against Rabaul. This bomber was leading the second element of the 403rd Bombardment Squadron (403rd BS). Over Kiriwina, rendezvoused with escorting P-38 Lightnings. Roughly 40 miles further north over the Solomon Sea, the formation encountered a thick clouds and poor weather that required them to climb over 20,000. Flying in clouds and bad weather, the formation broke up. This bomber was last seen by 2nd Lt. Harold G. Thompson. Unable to reach Rabaul due to the weather, the B-24s diverted to bomb alternate targets on New Britain and Finschafen on New Guinea. When this bomber failed to return, the crew were officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Possibly, this bomber collided with an escorting P-38 Lightning causing both planes to crash, as three were lost in the same bad weather. Search Afterwards, a search was conducted by three planes searching different areas but failed to find any trace of this bomber. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Bonner earned the Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Soldier's Medal, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Oak Hill Cemetery in Water Valley, MS. Baumgartner earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Saint Pauls Blue Church Cemetery in Coopersburg, PA at section L. Tucker earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery at Saint Simons Island, GA. Lavalle earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Chautauqua County, NY. Elphingstone earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Burd earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Hutto earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. Butler earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Moeller Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Hillcrest Cemetery in Decatur, NB at section 2. Tamblingson earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Relatives Yseldah Applegate (niece Hughie Bonner): "It is feared they collided with a P-38 in the soup weather." Barb Maslonka (niece of Robert Moeller) References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-115-CO Liberator 42-40934 Missing Air Crew Report 808 (MACR 808) created October 15, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Hughie R. Bonner American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Royal R. Baumgartner American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward B. Tucker American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Angelo J. Lavalle American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Michael P. Elphingstone American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ross D. Burd American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Elbert L. Hutto American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Coleman P. Butler Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert P. Moeller American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lloyd R. Tamblingson FindAGrave - Capt Hughie R Bonner (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Capt Hughie R. "Slim" Bonner (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Royal R Baumgartner (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Royal Raham Baumgartner (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Edward B Tucker (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Edward B Tucker (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Angelo J Lavalle (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Angelo J. LaValle (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Michael P Elphingstone (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Ross D Burd (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Elbert L Hutto (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Coleman P Butler, Jr (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Robert P Moeller (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Robert P. Moeller (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Lloyd R Tamblingson (tablets of the missing) Ken’s Men Against The Empire page 240 (map) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-40934 Ken's Men Against The Empire The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II Volume I: Prewar to October 1943 The B-17 Era (2020 2nd Edition) pages 303-304 (October 13, 1943 mission), 331-332 (October 13, 1943 crew list), 396 (index Bonner) Ken’s Men Against The Empire - The Illustrated History of the 43rd Bombardment Group During World War II - Volume II: October 1943 to 1945 B-24 Era (2019) pages 15 (map), 19 (October 13, 1943), 378 (403rd BG, 42-40934) Thanks to Herb Christianson 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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