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| USAAF 5th AF 380th BG 528th BS    580th BG c1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Maurice W. Beller, O-665659 (MIA / KIA) Detriot, WI Co-Pilot F/O Lee R. Root, T-000359 (MIA / KIA) Dunkirk, NY Navigator 2nd Lt. John M. Trexler, Jr. (MIA / KIA) Lexington, NC Bombardier 2nd Lt. Kenneth R. Adkins, Jr. (MIA / KIA) Huntington, WV Engineer TSgt Arnold W. Churchek (MIA / KIA) Tayler, TX Radio TSgt Lincoln Johnson, R-1226107 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Assistant Engineer SSgt Floyd E. Rakow, 17025984 (MIA / KIA) MN Assistant Radio Pvt William M. Thomas, 6917493 (MIA / KIA) Pocahontas, IL Armor SSgt Ernest Rivera, 12129457 (MIA / KIA) New York, NY Gunner SSgt Paul Nigrini, 13089327 (MIA / KIA) Irwin, PA R. C. M. Operator P/O Keith H. Bevan, 35952 RAAF (MIA / KIA) Artarmon, NSW Crashed November 21, 1943 at 1:30pm MACR 1784 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego completed May 27, 1943. Constructors Number 2044. First flight June 8, 1943. On June 9, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-120-CO Liberator serial number 42-40967. On July 8, 1943 ferried overseas via Hickam Field to Australia arriving July 28, 1943. In Australia, modified with a nose turret at Garbutt Field at Townsville. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 380th Bombardment Group, 528th Bombardment Squadron during August 1943. Nicknamed "Black Widow". The right side of the nose had the nose art of a woman wearing a dress with her shirt open and "Black Widow" in black cursive on a white background. The left side of the nose had the nose art of a woman laying down with a black spider on her chest with "Black Widow" in block letters. On August 29, 1943 first combat mission FEN II-29 took off from Fenton Airfield piloted Colleran on a bombing mission against Babo Airfield. When lost, engines 42-86996, 42-86386, 42-86704 and 42-62626. Weapon serial numbers 473949 (right waist), 122248 (left waist), 137599 and 496003 (belly guns), 665717 (camera hatch gun). Other .50 caliber machine gun serial numbers unknown. Mission History On November 21, 1943 took off on mission FEN III-27 took off from Fenton Airfield piloted by 1st Maurice W. Beller on a reconnaissance mission over Nabire, Manokwari and Sorong in western New Guinea. Aboard was Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P/O Keith H. Bevan who served as the R. C. M. operator. Over the Manokwari attacking shipping in the harbor, this bomber suffered a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire over Manokwari and crashed at 1:30pm. None of the crew were observed to bail out. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). The crash was observed by 2nd Lt. John P. O'Flahavan, Captain Phillip A. Shaw, Jr. and Captain Dexter K. Baker. All three observed this bomber hit the ground and catch fire. None observed any parachutes. 2nd Lt. John P. O'Flahavan via MACR 1784 page 11: "As co-pilot of lead ship in second element I witnessed the crash of Lt. Beller and crew. While flying through an area of ack-ack, Lt. Beller appeared to 'peel off' from his three ship formation and continue to loose altitude very rapidly in a steep spiral. Three or four turns had been completed without sign of either fire from any part of the plane or parachutes before the plane hit the ground. Obviously out of control the plane burst into flames upon contact with the ground. I would judge it impossible for anyone to survive the crash. As we left the area of Manokwari, black smoke and flame continued to come from the crashed plane." Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. Australian Keith H. Bevan is memorialized at Lae War Cemetery on the Lae Memorial, panel 6. Beller earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Root earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Trexler earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Lexington City Cemetery in Lexington, NC at section III. Adkins earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Woodmere Memorial Park in Huntington, WV. Churchek earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Johnson earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Rakow earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at plot MA, section 16. Thomas earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Rivera earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Chamberlain Cemetery in Kingsville, TX. Nigrini earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Union Cemetery in Irwin, PA. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-120-CO Liberator 42-40967 "40967 (380th BG, 528th BS, "Black Widow") shot down by AAA Nov 21, 1943, Manokwari, New Guinea. MACR 1784. All aboard killed" Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 1784 created November 25, 1943 380th BG Association - B-24D "Black Widow"42-40967 380th BG Association - B-24D "Shady Lady" 42-40369 - Mission Record American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Maurice W. Beller American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lee R. Root American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John M. Trexler, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kenneth R. Adkins Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Arnold W. Churchek American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lincoln Johnson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Floyd E. Rakow American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William M. Thomas American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) -Ernest Rivera American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Paul Nigrini CWGC - Keith Harry Bevan WW2 Nominal Roll - Keith Harry Bevan RAAFDB - B-24D Liberator 42-40967 RAAFDB - Keith Harry Bevan FindAGrave - 1Lt Maurice W Beller (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - FltOff Lee R Root (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2LT John M Trexler, Jr (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - John Moyer Trexler (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Kenneth R Adkins, Jr (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Kenneth Ray Adkins, Jr (memorial marker, date of death incorrectly listed as November 1, 1943 [sic] FindAGrave - TSgt Arnold W Churchek (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Lincoln Johnson (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Floyd E Rakow (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Floyd Eugene Rakow (photo, memorial marker) FindAGrave - Pvt William M Thomas (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Ernest Rivera (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Ernesto Rivera (memorial marker) FindAGrave - SSgt Paul Nigrini (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Paul Nigrini (memorial marker) FindAGrave - Pilot Officer Keith Harry Bevan (Lae Cemetery) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 11, 2025
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 B-24  Map November 21, 1943  Photo Archive  MIA 11 Missing |
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