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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 65th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Albert A. Turner (survived) Garland County, TX Co-Pilot Lt. Warren W. Lanz (survived) White County, AR Bombardier Lt. Ludlow Miller (survived) Navigator Travis Gibertson (survived) Engineer John Bartell (survived) Radio Fred A. Taylor, Jr. (survived) Montgomery County, VA Asst. Radio Paul L. Meyers (survived) Nose Gunner Lee W. McGown (survived) Ditched October 28, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in San Diego at a cost of $297,627.00. Constructors Number 2294. On July 17, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-145-CO Liberator serial number 42-41217. Ferried via Hickam Field overseas to Australia arriving September 28, 1943. Wartime History In early October 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) "Ken's Men", 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS) "The Lucky Dicers". No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On October 28, 1943 took off from 5 Mile Drome (Wards) near Port Moresby piloted by Lt. Albert A. Turner on reconnaissance mission over the Solomon Sea to the southern coast of New Britain then bombed Gasmata. Returning, this B-24 ran into bad weather over the Owen Stanley Mountains and instead diverted towards Milne Bay. The same bad weather made a landing impossible, so this bomber turned westward for Port Moresby, but ran out of fuel and ditched into Mullins Harbor on the south coast of New Guinea. Rescue All the crew survived and deployed the life rafts and were assisted ashore by native people. The next day, a U.S. Navy PBY Catalina arrived and rescued the entire crew. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Albert A. Turner NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Warren W. Lanz NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Fred A. Taylor, Jr. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-145-CO Liberator 42-41217 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-41217 Ken's Men Against The Empire Volume II (2019) pages 27-28 (October 28, 1943), 375 (65th BS, 42-41217), 461 (index Turner) 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 |
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