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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 65th BS |
Pilot Lt John W. Taylor, O-797637 (survived) TN Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Patrick J. Freeman, O-743232 (survived) Gilberts, IL Navigator 2nd Lt William E. Townsend, O-676174 (survived) Mena, AR Bombardier 2nd Lt James C. Brown, O-676418 (survived) SC Engineer S/Sgt Patrick P. Steffanelli 12132191 (survived) NJ Assist. Engineer Sgt Joseph C. Keen Jr 35467991 (survived) OH Radio S/Sgt Robert E. Fitzgerald 31163118 (survived) MA Asst. Radio Sgt Joseph G. Bialy, 32452236 (survived) NJ Gunner Sgt Harry F. Huntington, 19087985 (survived) CA Gunner Sgt Louis O. Ball, 35342063 (survived) IL Crashed October 18, 1943 MACR 964 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego at a cost of $297,627.00 Constructors Number 2165. On June 29, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-130-CO Liberator serial number 42-41088. Flown to the modification center at Tucson, AZ. On July 14, 1943 flown to Love Field, TX and the next day to Biggs Field at El Paso, TX then to Lincoln, NB. On August 9, 1943 arrives Long Beach, CA and three days later flown to Fairfield Airfield. On August 17, 1943 assigned to "Left" (5th Air Force) and departed Fairfield Airfield on a flight to Hickam Field where it was further modified at Hawaiian Air Depot (HAD) including the removal of the Sperry ball turret and installation of ASV radar. On August 24, 1943 departs Hickam Field on a ferry flight across the Pacific arriving in Australia on September 5, 1943. Further modified at the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field near Townsville. Wartime History On September 29, 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) "Ken's Men", 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS). Nicknamed "The Upstairs Maid" in white lettering, in reference to the popular song by Bing Crosby "The Waiter And The Porter And The Upstairs Maid" (1941). On the left side of the tail was a large pair of white dice, the 65th Bombardment Squadron motif. When lost, engines R-1830-43 AAF serial numbers 42-88841, 42-88846, 42-87685, 42-88844. Weapon serial numbers noted in Missing Air Crew Report 964 (MACR 964) including nine .50 caliber machine guns and two .30 caliber machine guns serial numbers 71617 and 74536. Officially condemned on January 6, 1944. Mission History On October 18, 1943 took off from 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby piloted by Lt John W. Taylor on a bombing against Rabaul as one of nearly eighty B-24 Liberators in a mixed formation of bombers from the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) and 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG). This B-24 was flying as part of the second element, left wing position. This was the 65th Bombardment Squadron mission number 280 H. Inbound to the target, the formation encountered bad weather and aborted the mission with some B-24s bombing the alternate target of Cape Hoskin. Returning at from the mission, at approximately 2:45pm, at roughly Lat 7.30 Long 148E the formation passed through a thunderstorm at an altitude of 8,000' for approximately two minutes and this B-24 was observed to peel off to the left in a dive and come out of the dive at the right of its element when it was last sighted by other bombers from the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) including B-24D "Double Trouble" 42-41226. After exiting the thunderstorm, this bomber was last seen by B-24D 42-41086 approximately five miles to the right of the formation and Taylor radioed asking what ship they were. Both the pilot and co-pilot answered, but did not get a response. This B-24 was last observed on an approximate course of 205° at roughly 10,000' at approximately Lat 8.40 S Long 147.40 E. Another wartime coordinate listed of the last sighting was Lat 8.56 S Long 147.18 E. When this B-24 failed to return, it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). In total, four B-24s were lost including this bomber, B-24D "Sky Lady" 41-24043, B-24D "Ben Buzzard" 42-40670 and B-24D 42-40885. In fact, this B-24 became separated from the rest of the formation. Low on fuel and when three engines cut out the pilots placed the bomber into a turn and ordered the crew to bail out. All successfully parachuted out of the B-24 before it crashed into the ground. Search On October 19, 1943 at 9:30am, three B-24s took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby on a search mission for the missing B-24, flying over the area to Cape Possession, Morobe then down the north coast of New Guinea to Buna. All three B-24s searching made nil sightings and returned at 4:47pm. Fates of the Crew The crew of the B-24 successfully bailed out roughly 50 miles northwest of Port Moresby. Landing in two groups in two different valleys, the crew located each other and proceeded southward together. After 11 days in the jungle, they were rescued. By November 2, 1943 the entire crew returned to Port Moresby. After surviving this crash landing, this same crew (with the exception of Freeman and Townsend) were killed flying aboard B-24J "Super" 42-73338 on April 9, 1944 over Hansa Bay. Freeman flew a total of 60 combat missions in the Pacific Theater during World War II. He continued as a pilot, participating in the Berlin Airlift, Korean War and Cuban Missile Crisis. He was a member of the 440th Tactical Airlift Group of Milwaukee, then transferred to the 928th Tactical Airlift Group (TAG) at O'Hare Field in Chicago, IL and was promoted to both group and base commander. He retired with 33 years of service as a Brigadier General from the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Freeman died on March 8, 2008 and had a military funeral with the 126th Air Refueling Group at O'Hare Field. He is buried at Saint Marys Cemetery in Gilberts, IL at plot 11-D. Townsend died on December 27, 2008 and is buried at Riverside National Cemetery in Riverside, CA. References Individual Aircraft Record Card (IARC) - B-24D Liberator Serial Number 42-41088 Missing Air Crew Report 964 (MACR 964) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-41088 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John W. Taylor American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James C. Brown American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Patrick P. Steffanelli American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph C. Keen Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert E. Fitzgerald American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph G. Bialy death date incorrectly listed as Oct. 9, 1944 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harry F. Huntington American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Louis D. Ball death date incorrectly listed as Oct. 9, 1944 FindAGrave - 1Lt John W Taylor (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Patrick P Steffanelli FindAGrave - SSgt Joseph C Keen, Jr FindAGrave - TSgt Robert E Fitzgerald FindAGrave - SSgt Joseph G Bialy (death date incorrectly listed as Oct. 9, 1944) FindAGrave - SSgt Harry F Huntington FindAGrave - Sgt Louis D. Ball (tablets of the missing photo, death date incorrectly listed as Oct. 9, 1944) FindAGrave - Sgt Louis D. Ball (memorial marker photo, letter home, obituary) "In October of 1943, Reatha Ball [mother of Louis D. Ball] received word that Louis was also now missing in action. Fortunately, Louis was found after spending eleven days in the jungle after he and the rest of his crew bailed out over New Guinea." FindAGrave - Gen Patrick Joseph Freeman (grave photo) FindAGrave - William Edwin Townsend (grave photo) Correspondence from Mr. Patrick Freeman to Larry Hickey 1992 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) pages 305-314 (October 18, 1943), 309 (photos) Thanks to Larry Hickey and Pete Johnson 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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