Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Army. Ferried overseas via Hawaii to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 90th Bombardment Group, 319th Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed "Pistol Packin' Mama".

Mission History
On December 1, 1943 one of six B-24s that took off from 5 Mile Drome (Wards) near Port Moresby on a bombing mission against Wewak. Over the target, this B-24 encountered intense anti-aircraft fire that disabled the No. 3 engine, but was able to remain in formation. When the lead bomber's bomb site malfunctioned, this B-24's bombardier, 1st Lt. Blaney led the bombing with the rest of the formation dropping on his command.

Immediately after dropping their bombs, "Zeros" attacked (actually Ki-43 Oscars) and the formation encountered more anti-aircraft fire set the No. 4 engine on fire. This blaze was extinguished, and the crew jettisoned everything possible from the damaged bomber.

This B-24 attempted to ditch twenty miles northeast of Finschafen. Another reference states the bomber ditched between Long Island and New Guinea coast and was observed to cartwheel as it hit the water. During the crash, Heathe was knocked unconscious and found floating in the water. Those in the flight deck area survived. The four in the waist and tail died in the crash and their bodies were not recovered. The survivors deployed the two life rafts before the B-24 sank.

A total of three B-24s were lost this mission including this aircraft plus B-24D "Ten Knights in a Bar Room" 42-72806 and B-24D "Lobo" 42-40830.

Rescue
Immediately after the crash, another B-24 in the formation piloted by Robeck witnessed the crash and dropped all the survival gear aboard and circled until they were low on fuel.

The next day, the six survivors were rescued by PT-Boats from Finschafen PT Boat base, escorted by fighters.

Memorials
The four missing crew members were officially declared dead the day of the mission. All four are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

Blaney passed away on October 10, 1989. He is buried at Linwood Cemetery in Haverhill, MA.

References
Missing Air Crew Report 13824 (MACR 13824)
Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group page 89, 91
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William D. Ball
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lewis B. Butt
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Philip J. LaGarde, Jr.
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Mitchell E. Balut
FindAGrave - Frederick Harrison "Fred" Blaney (photo, grave photo)
FindAGrave - TSgt William D Ball (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - SSgt Lewis B Butt (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt Philip J Lagarde, Jr (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - SSgt Mitchell E Balut (tablets of the missing)

Last Updated
February 18, 2020