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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 65th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt Walter A. Overfors (KIA, BR) Shan, MN Co-Pilot 2nd Lt John G. Hising, O-799019 (KIA, BR) Worcester, MA Crew 2nd Lt Wilfred H. Davis, O-798763 (KIA, BR) New Haven, VT Crew 2nd Lt John M. Kerins, O-669314 (KIA, BR) Shortsville, NY Crew 2nd Lt Alfonso J. Giacchi, O-801451 (KIA, BR) NY Crew T/Sgt Roy H. Berglund, Jr., 17039978 (KIA, BR) NB Crew T/Sgt Waldemar F. Domkowski, 12035578 (KIA, BR) Schenectady, NY Crew S/Sgt David A. Fugate, 37224935 (KIA, BR) MO Crew S/Sgt Paul R. Ellis, 37374432 (KIA, BR) MS Crew S/Sgt Charles R. Loer, 15102848 (KIA, BR) New Lisbon, IN Crew S/Sgt Edwin S. Anderson, 15062866 (KIA, BR) IN Crew T/Sgt Royal E. Jefferson, 11009234 (KIA, BR) Worcester, MA Crashed November 26, 1943 at 2:30am MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2166. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-130-CO Liberator serial number 42-41089. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia arriving August 4, 1943. Wartime History During September 1943, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS). Assigned to pilot Bennett. No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines R-183043 serial numbers 42-87471 and 42-88845, the other two serial numbers are unknown. Mission History On November 26, 1943 at roughly 2:30am took off from 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby on weather reconnaissance mission over Gasmata. Instead, for unknown reasons, this B-24 crashed into Pompom Valley, near the junction of the Rigo Road and Taurama Road roughly six miles southeast of 7 Mile Drome (Jackson). The entire crew were killed in the crash. The cause of the crash was never determined. Wreckage This bomber crashed over a wide area and broke up and burned. After the crash, 2nd Lt. Leonard E. Painter recalled via Ken’s Men Against The Empire Volume II page 43: "I ate breakfast with the crew [in the early morning before the mission], helped in briefing by locating Jap radar. I later visited the wreck. Plane with pieces of clothing and flesh scattered over a large area. I didn't visit any more wrecks." Recovery of Remains After the crash, the bodies of the crew were recovered and buried in Port Moresby. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the crash. Postwar, their remains were exhumed and transported back to the United States for permanent burial. Overfors at Shaw Cemetery in Duluth, MN. Hising at Evergreen Cemetery at section 15 lot 221 on June 16, 1948. Davis at Pratt Cemetery in Keene, NY Kerins at Saint Rose Cemetery in Shortsville, NY. Domkowski at Saint Marys Cemetery in Schenectady, NY. Loer is at Batson Cemetery in Millville, IN in the west section. Fugate was buried March 29, 1949 at Jefferson City National Cemetery at section 12, site 1089. Ellis at Ellis Chapel Methodist Church Cemetery in Bahama, NC. The other crew members are presumed to be buried in private burials in their hometowns. Wreckage Into the 1980s, this crash site remained in situ. On December 16, 1980 this crash site was identified using two of the engine cowlings, that had the constructor number 2166 stenciled onto them. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-130-CO Liberator 42-41089 43rd Bombardment Group History PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-40060 FindAGrave - 1LT Walter A Overfors (photos, news, grave photo) FindAGrave - John G. Hising (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Wilfred Hassan Davis (grave photo) FindAGrave - John M. Kerins (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Alfonso J. Giacchi (grave photos) FindAGrave - TSGT Roy Harry Berglund Jr. (grave photo) FindAGrave - Waldemar F. Domkowski (grave photos) FindAGrave - SSgt David A Fugate (photo, grave photos) FindAGrave - SSGT David A Fugate (photo, grave photos) FindAGrave - SGT Paul Raymond Ellis (grave photo) FindAGrave - Charles R. Loer (grave photos) FindAGrave - SSGT Edwin Stinson Anderson (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - TSGT Royal E. Jefferson (photo, grave photo) 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 43 (November 26, 1943) 352 (November 26, 1943 crew list 42-41089), 375 (65th BS, 42-41089) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 18, 2025
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