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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 63rd BS Former Assignments 1st AF 1st SSAG 2nd SSAS  USAAF c1943   USAAF 1944 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Thomas D. Savage, O-689366 (KIA)
New York, NY Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. James "Jim" E. O'Brien, O-69904 (KIA) La Grange, IL Navigator 2nd Lt. Searle C. G. Snyder, O-814151 (KIA) Slatington, PA Bombardier Robert Schmidt, O-7411756 (KIA) Milwaukee, WI Engineer TSgt James F. Acker, 32370755 (KIA) Glens Falls, NY Asst Engineer SSgt Albert J. Williams, 11089707 (KIA) Swapscottt, MA Radio TSgt George T. Harrison, 33279305 (KIA) Brownsville, PA Radio TSgt George B. McKee, 38099089 (KIA) Archer City, TX Gunner SSgt George A. Long, 39381546 (KIA) Roslyn, WA Gunner SSgt George A. Bowling, 13119189 (KIA) Norton, VA Gunner SSgt William J. Desmond, 39028399 (KIA) San Francisco, CA Gunner SSgt William S. Mathis, 34402317 (KIA) Nicevile, FL Crashed December 8, 1944 MACR 11700 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in San Diego. Constructors Number 2126. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-130-CO Liberator serial number 42-41049. Ferried overseas across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Wartime History In early August 1943, 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. Assigned to Lt. Col Edward W. Scott. This bomber was one of twelve radar equipped B-24 and crews dubbed the "Scott Project" were placed under the command of Lt. Col Edward W. Scott and trained on the Low Altitude Bombing (LAB) system and tactics and completed training by the end of September 1943. On October 1, 1943 departs Langley Field piloted by Lt Col Edward W. Scott on a ferry flight across the United States then via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia arriving thirteen days later. Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) "Ken's Men", 63rd Bombardment Squadron (63rd BS) "Sea Hawks". Nicknamed "Who's Next?" with the nose art of a reclining woman wearing a cocktail dress both sides of the nose. Assigned to pilot Lt. Col Edward W. Scott. Later, assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Charles F. Quinette. When lost, engines R-1820-43 serial numbers: a) 42-41049 b) CP-301016 c) 42-39320 d) 42-36817. Weapon serial numbers not noted in Missing Air Crew Report 11700. Mission History On December 7, 1944 took off from Tacloban Airfield on Leyte pilot 2nd Lt. Thomas D. Savage on a night bombing mission against Manila. Last seen off the southwest corner of Bataan Peninsula at 23:30 at roughly Lat 14° 36' N Long 120° 36' E roughly 27 miles north of Corregidor. At this time, the bomber was maintaining radio contact with the ground and last message was 11:40pm. On December 8, 1944 in the early morning hours crashed into Mount Malisimbo near Puerto Galera on Mindoro Island. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Acation (MIA). Wreckage Postwar, the wreckage of the bomber was located and the remains of the crew were recovered and transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was declared dead on December 7, 1944. On November 15, 1949 the crew were buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in group burial at section 79 site 498-500. McKee also has a memorial marker at Archer City Cemetery in Archer City, Texas. Relatives Al O'Brien (brother of James O'Brien) "According to the copy I have of the details of this mission, (the history of which were written during December of 1944) it was a night mission to Clark Field not to Manila. This is born out as probably correct since the last report from the plane was West of Corregidor." Don Petty (nephew George McKee) "I am the nephew of George McKee." References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-130-CO Liberator 42-41049 Missing Air Crew Report 11700 (MACR 11700) created December 10, 1944 Who's Next by Al O'Brien for his brother co-pilot Jim O'Brien, KIA News "Roslyn youth listed missing in Philippines" January 10, 1945 FindAGrave - Thomas D Savage (grave photo) FindAGrave - James Edward O'Brien (grave photo, photo) FindAGrave - Searle C G Snyder (grave photo) FindAGrave - Robert Schmidt (grave photo) FindAGrave - James F. Acker (grave photo) FindAGrave - Albert J Williams (grave photo) FindAGrave - George T Harrison (grave photo) FindAGrave - George A McKee (grave photo) FindAGrave - George A McKee (memorial photo) FindAGrave - George A Long (grave photo, news) FindAGrave - George A Bowling (grave photo) FindAGrave - William J Desmond (grave photo) FindAGrave - William S Mathis (grave photo) Ken's Men Against The Empire Volume II (2019) pages 189 (December 7-8, 1944), 360 (December 8, 1944 loss crew list), 368 (63rd, 42-41049), 458 (index Savage), 456 (index Quinette) Thanks to Al O'Brien, Spike Nasmyth and Kevin Hamdorf 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 August 27, 2026 |
 B-24  MIA 12 Missing Resolved |
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