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| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 400th BS  AWM 1943 |
Pilot 2nd Lt Donald K. McNeff, O-2268476 (MIA / KIA) Broken Bow, NB Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Lester K. Danks, O-801941 (MIA / KIA) CT Navigator 2nd Lt Lucian B. Gray, O-798792 (MIA / KIA) Ocala, FL Bombardier 2nd Lt William K. Murray, O-669381 (MIA / KIA) West New York, NJ Engineer SSgt Francis E. Walker, 31160010 (MIA / KIA) Brockton, MA Radio SSgt John E. Gormley, 31117607 (MIA / KIA) Annapolis Royal, Canada Asst Radio SSgt Walter E. Kuchta, 31168759 (MIA / KIA) New Haven, CT Gunner SSgt Stephen K. Roos, 32243763 (MIA / KIA) Ridgewood, NJ Gunner SSgt John L. Ford, 15115355 (MIA / KIA) MIA October 12, 1943 MACR 997 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2359. On July 28, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-53-CO Liberator serial number 42-40389. Flown overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG), 400th Bombardment Squadron (400th BS). No known nickname or nose art. Possibly, nicknamed "Sugar Ration" by the crew, but the name may or may not have been added before the bomber was lost. The tail had the skull and cross bomb motif of the group. When lost, engines R-1830-65 serial numbers 42-90723, 42-90537, 42-9003 and 42-90435. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown, serial numbers listed in Missing Air Crew Report 997 (MACR 997). Mission History On October 12, 1943 took off from 5 Mile Drome (Wards) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Donald K. McNeff on a bombing mission against Rabaul. This was the first daylight raid against Rabaul since January 5, 1943. The weather was scattered clouds with good visibility. Over the target, the squadron experienced intense anti-aircraft fire and bombed the Toboi docks and a docked ship with others bombing another vessel and claimed a direct hit and several near misses while others bombed another ship. After the bomb run, intercepted by roughly 20 Japanese fighters including Zeros and Oscars that made roughly 30 passes. The squadron claimed four shot down including a twin engine bomber. At 1:30pm last seen by B-24 pilot 2nd Lt. Nels T. Moody with damage on the waist section but did not appear to be in trouble on a heading of 225° on a course bound for Dobodura at an altitude of 6,000' over the Solomon Sea roughly 60 miles southeast of Wide Bay at roughly Lat 6° 30' S Long 152° E. Possibly, the bomber was damaged or ran out of fuel due to high consumption while attempting to evade enemy fighters. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. McNeff earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Danks earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Gray earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Evergreen Cemetery in Gainesville, FL. Gray is also memorialized on a plaque with the names of residents who died in wars on the Alachua County Courthouse in Gainesville, FL. Murray earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Walker earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Gormley earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is also memorialized on his parents grave at Forest City Cemetery in South Portland, Maine at section DD lot 162. Kutcha earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Roos earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is also memorialized on a plaque at Van Neste Square in Ridgewood, NJ. Ford earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Donald K. Mc Neff surname spelled as two words NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Walter E. Kuchta USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-155-CO Liberator 42-72789 "72789 (90th BG, 400th BS) lost Oct 12, 1943, Solomons. MACR 997" Missing Air Crew Report 997 (MACR 997) created October 30, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald K. McNeff FindAGrave - 2Lt Donald K. McNeff (photos, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lester K. Danks Jr. FindAGrave - 2LT Lester K Danks Jr. (photo, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lucian B. Gray FindAGrave - 2LT Lucian Benjamin Gray (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Lucian Benjamin Gray (photo, memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William K. Murray FindAGrave - William K. Murray (photo, tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Francis E. Walker FindAGrave - SSgt Francis E. Walker (photo, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John E. Gormley FindAGrave - TSgt John Eugene Gormley (photos, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Walter E. Kuchta FindAGrave - SSgt Walter Edward Kuchta (photos, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Stephen K. Roos FindAGrave - SSgt Stephen K Roos (photos, tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John L. Ford FindAGrave - SSgt John L Ford (photo, tablets of the missing photo) Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group (1994) pages 82-82 (October 12, 1943), 85 (map) South Pacific Air War (2024) by Richard Dunn pages 450-451 (October 12, 1943) Thanks to Bob Livingstone 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 November 2, 2025
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 B-24  Map October 12, 1943  Photo Archive  MIA 9 Missing |
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