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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 403rd BS  Hope Aug 19, 2006 |
Pilot F/O Halbert V. Miller, T-344000 (MIA / KIA, BR) OR Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Joseph L. Nichols, O-675274 (MIA / KIA) Bessemer, AL Navigator 2nd Lt. Ben L. Greene, O-673546 (MIA / KIA) Bombardier MSgt Arthur W. Griffin, 31146089 (MIA / KIA) Observer 2nd Lt. William C. Bumguardner, Jr., O-669982 (MIA / KIA) TX Engineer TSgt Andrew G. Anderson, 38110675 (MIA / KIA) Keenesburg, CO Radio TSgt Michael Downey, 32421791 (MIA / KIA) Assist. Engineer SSgt Otis F. Cozine, 35455523 (MIA / KIA) LA Assist. Radio SSgt Seymour S. Pinsky, 32437965 (MIA / KIA) Gunner SSgt Charles C. Barnard, 33204701 (MIA / KIA) Baltimore, MD Gunner SSgt Paul M. McClintock, 6999467 (MIA / KIA) Crashed November 10, 1943 MACR 1636 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2287. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-145-CO Liberator serial number 42-41210. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia arriving September 23, 1943. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 403rd Bombardment Squadron (403rd BS). Assigned to pilot F/O Halbert V. Miller. No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines R1830-65 serial numbers 42-88289, 42-88084, 42-88277, 42-88123. Mission History On November 10, 1943 at 1:55am took off from Horanda Drome (Dobodura No. 4) piloted by F/O Halbert V. Miller on a bombing mission against Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul. Last seen on take off and never joined formation. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage In fact, this bomber reached New Britain and crashed inland from Meijin Bay on the west side of the Tigimi River. Likely, the crash was due to bad weather. Afterwards, a villager name Sako trekked to the crash site. During late January 1944, downed aviator U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Pfc James A. Brooks gunner from TBF Avenger 24492 was led to the bomber by Sako. At the crash site, he saw the bodies of the eleven crew members and recovered a dog tag of SSgt Seymour S. Pinsky and three pistols. Later, when he was rescued he reported the crash site. E&E Report No. 41 - Swenson / Brooks, 29th March 1944 pages 5: "[Circa January 25-31, 1944] A native told our gunner [Brooks] about an airplane that had crashed and burned nearby in November, 1943. The gunner examined the plane and found it to be a B-24. He also saw the 11 bodies of the crew, but could not find any serial number on this ship. Three. 45 pistols were slavaged from the wreck and also a dog tag of one of the crew members. This information was later passed on to our rescuers and thence to the proper authorities." During December 1948, based on Pfc Brooks' report, the crash site was visited by American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) and the remains of the crew were recovered. Memorials The crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After the recovery of remains, the crew were transported to the United States for permanent burial. Downey, Greene, Griffin, Pinsky and McClintock are buried at Arlington National Cemetery in a group burial at section 34 site 4746. Two of the crew were buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). Nichols at Plot P Row 0 Grave 926. Barnard was buried on December 8, 1949 at Plot P Row 0 Grave 545. Cozine is buried at Baton Rouge National Cemetery at section 13, site 13 Miller is buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery at section N site 2231 Bumguardner is buried at Rest Haven Cemetery in Menard, TX Anderson is buried at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver, CO at block 96. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-145-CO Liberator 42-41210 "41210 (43rd BG, 403rd BS) lost on night raid on Rabaul Nov 10, 1943. MACR 1636. 11 KIA" Missing Air Crew Report 1636 (MACR 1636) E&E Report No. 41 - Swenson / Brooks, 29th March 1944 pages 5 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-41210 FindAGrave - Halbert V. Miller (grave photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Joseph L Nichols (grave photo) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Ben L. Greene (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - Ben L. Greene (photo, group burial grave photo) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Arthur W. Griffin (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - Arthur W. Griffin (group burial grave photo) FindAGrave - William C. Bumguardner (grave photo) FindAGrave - Andrew George "Andy" Anderson (obituary, grave photo) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Michael Downey (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - Michael Downey (photo, group burial grave photo) FindAGrave - Otis Cozine (grave photo) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Seymour Pinsky (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - Seymour Pinsky (group burial grave photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Charles C Barnard (grave photo) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Paul McClintock (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - Paul McClintock (group burial grave photo) Ken's Men Aganist The Empire Volume II (2019) pages 35 (November 10, 1943), 352 (November 10, 1943 crew), 379 (403rd BS, 42-41210), 453 (index Miller) Thanks to Edward Rogers for research and analysis 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 11 Missing Resolved |
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