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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 63rd BS Former Assignments 1st AF 1st SSAG 2nd SSAS  USAAF 1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt James J. Harris Jr., O-790833 (MIA / KIA) Barryville, VA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt George J. Bolles, O-801320 (MIA / KIA) West Hartford, CT Navigator 1st Lt James B. Hamilton Jr., O-789793 (MIA / KIA) Atkinson, NC Bombardier 2nd Lt Douglas H. Wright, O-673759 (MIA / KIA) Dearborn, MI Engineer TSgt Gardiner A. Corrigan, 13047732 (MIA / KIA) Columbia, PA Assistant Engineer SSgt Lewis V. Nason, 31151994 (MIA / KIA) Auburn, ME Radio TSgt Joseph E. Moskaluk, 31063849 (MIA / KIA) Messup, CT Gunner SSgt James K. "J. K." Johnson, 37259439 (MIA / KIA) Garland, AR Radar TSgt Richard B. Friend, 31110592 (MIA / KIA) Rochester, NH Observer MSgt Ray B. Orner Jr., 6578587 15th Weather Squadron (MIA / KIA) Pasadina, CA MIA December 16, 1943 MACR 1417 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2120. Project Number 96189R. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-125-CO Liberator 42-41043. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 1st Air Force (1st AF), 1st Sea Search Attach Group (1st SSAG), 2nd Sea Search Attack Squadron (2nd SSAS) at Langley Field in Virginia as one of twelve radar equipped B-24s assigned to the "Scott Project" under the command of Major Edward W. Scott, Jr. (C.O. 63rd BS) and flew training missions until late September 1943. On October 1, 1943 departs Langley Field piloted by 1st Lt James J. Harris Jr. on a ferry across the United States on a ferry flight via Hickam Field then across the Pacific bound for Australia arriving October 14, 1943. Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group, (43rd BG) "Ken's Men", 63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS) "Sea Hawks". No known nickname or nose art. Possibly, nicknamed "Sack Time Limited". Assigned to 1st Lt James J. Harris Jr. On October 21, 1943 flown to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. When lost, engines R-1830-43 serial numbers a) MFR50622 b) 42-88862 c) 41-88770 d) 42-88725. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers 587040, 668707, 748696, 505461, 422114, 422136, 326481 and 661890. Mission History On December 15, 1943 in the evening took off from Dobodura No. 4 Airfield (Horanda 4Y) armed with twelve 250 pound bombs, four flares and 2,700 gallons of fuel on an overnight armed reconnaissance mission to patrol from Gasmata to Vahsel Harbor on the southern coast of New Britain. On December 16, 1943 at 1:00am, this bomber reported several enemy aircraft were following it. At 2:00am the B-24 reported its position as Lat 06° 185' Long 150° 43E. At 3:00am the radio operator transmitted "065..." and then broke off. Contact was never reestablished. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). It was believed this bomber crashed into the sea off southern New Britain in the Gasmata area. Overnight, PT-131 under the command of Lt. Ellicott and PT-133 under the command of Lt. R. R. Read reported firing on a "four engined flyingboat", they claimed as shot down and crashed into the sea in the vicinity of this B-24's last reported position. It is possible that the PT Boats fired on this B-24 after mistakenly identifying it as a four-engine Japanese flying boat in the darkness. Search That same day, three B-24s '051 pilot 1st Lt. Park and Captain Derr, '050 pilot Captain McIntosh and '501 [sic] piloted by F/O Molder searched from Cape Ward Hunt over the Solomon Sea to the Trobriand Islands and 30-50 miles south of New Britain. On December 17, 1943 the same three again searched. They found no trace of this bomber, total search time was 16 hours and 30 minutes. No Allied airfields reported any contact with the missing bomber. Requests were made to the U.S. Navy (USN) for any sightings off Gasmata via official channels. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on January 24, 1946. Each member of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Bolles also has a memorial marker at Saint Bernard Cemetery in Rockville, CT. Hamilton also has a memorial marker at Riverview Memorial Park in Willard, NC. Moskaluk also has a memorial marker at Saint Mary Cemetery in Lisbon, CT. Orner earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James J. Harris Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George J. Bolles NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James B. Hamilton Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Douglas H. Wright NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Gardiner A. Corrigan NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Lewis V. Nason NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Joseph E. Moskaluk NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard B. Friend USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-125-CO Liberator 42-41043 "41043 (43rd BG, 63rd BS) shot down at night off New Britain Dec 16, 1943. MACR 1417. 10 KIA." Missing Air Crew Report 1417 (MACR 1417) created December 17, 1943 NARA Combat Report as told by Lieut E. W. Roberts O.T.C, Lieut. J Ellicott and Lieut. R. R. Rad, to Lieut. J. H. DeCourey, Intelligence Officer Squadron Seven 16 December 1943 page 1-5 (Page 3) "Identity: Plane was seen by various personnel aboard having the following characteristics: four engines, high parasol wing, rounded wing tips, heavy hull, twin tails, prominent struts, from hull outboard and upward to wing. These specifications fit the Japanese long range patrol bomber seaplane, [H6K] MAVIS. Evasive Tactics: Boats zigzagged and turned sharply to avoid plane. Plane banked sharply to avoid boats fire. No offensive action materialized. Plane made full use of darkness caused by clouds covering the moon on occasions. Visible Results: Plane definitely caught fire in air, burned and crashed. Appraisal: Plane demolished when shot down. Crew felt to have been destroyed also. Ordnance Expended: 37mm - 90 rds. 50 cal - 2050 rds. 30 cal 1050 rds. 20mm 45 rds. Search: Further search revealed no additional air or surface craft or debris. Salvage: None. /s/ E.W. Roberts, Lieutenant USNR" (Page 4) "Combat Report of PTs 131 and 133, Night of December 15/16, 1943 - January 23, 1943... 3. The Commander Task Group 73.1 reported by dispatch that a [PBY] Catalina patrol plane on the morning of 16 December, 1943 sighted two patrol boats equipped with I.F.F. [Identification Friend Foe] about 18 miles southwest of Gasmata, and that at 2:30L the Catalina saw a large plane with square wing tips shot down in flames by these patrol boats. While there is a discrepancy of about one hour in the times reported by the Commander Task Group 73.1 and the Commander MTB Squadron 7, it is believed that both reports cover the same action and that the report of the Commander Task Group 73.1 confirms destruction of a large aircraft by PTs 131 and 133." 43rd Bombardment Group History New York Times December 18, 1943 page 2 "Northeastern Sector: New Britain… Gasmata... Our light naval craft [PT Boats] destroyed a four-engined flying boat off the coast [of southern New Britain]." "Japanese: No broadcast of a Japanese communique was recorded yesterday by the principal radio listening posts in the United States." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James J. Harris Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George J. Bolles American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James B. Hamilton Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Douglas H. Wright American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gardiner A. Corrigan American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lewis V. Nason American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph E. Moskaluk American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - J. K. Johnson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard B. Friend American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ray B. Orner Jr. FindAGrave - 1Lt James Joseph Harris Jr. (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2LT George Joseph Bolles (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut George Joseph Bolles (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 1LT James B Hamilton Jr. (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - James B Hamilton Jr. (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Douglas H Wright (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSGT Gardiner A. Corrigan (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Lewis Varney Nason (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSGT Joseph E. Moskaluk (tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - Joseph E. Moskaluk (memorial marker photos) FindAGrave - SSGT James K “J.K.” Johnson (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Richard B Friend (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - MSgt Ray Berthal Orner Jr. (tablets of the missing photo) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-41043 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 13 (photo, lower left group photo crew no. 11 Harris, 49-50 (December 16, 1943), 15 (map), 354 (December 16, 1943 loss crew), 368 (63rd BS, 42-41043), 448 (index Harris) Thanks to Richard Dunn 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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 B-24  MIA 10 Missing  Map Dec 16, 1943 |
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