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| USAAF 13th AF 5th BG 23rd BS |
Instructor Pilot 1st Lt. Clinton S. Wicker (survived) MN Student Pilot Captain John A. Temple, O-725225 (MIA / KIA) CA Student Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Paul E. Foster (survived) Engineer SSgt William R. Homer, 07025704 (survived) Jeannette, PA Radio Sgt Francois X. Frederick, 34155054 (MIA / KIA) LA Crashed October 1, 1943 at 9:05am MACR 725 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2364. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-155-CO Liberator serial number 42-72794. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SOPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG) "Bomber Barons", 23rd Bombardment Squadron (23rd BS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines R-1830-43 serial numbers 41-15241, 42-59124, 42-40992 and 42-59189. Weapon makers and serial numbers not listed in Missing Air Crew Report 725 (MACR 725). Mission History On October 1, 1943 at 6:30am took off from Bomber 2 on Espirito Santo piloted by 1st Lt. Clinton S. Wicker on a training flight to train student pilot, co-pilot Captain John A. Temple. After circling the area, landed at 8:30am. At 9:05am took off again on a training flight with Captain John A. Temple with instructor pilot 1st Lt. Clinton S. Wicker flying as co-pilot. After take off, the landing gear was retracted and climbed to 300' when the manifold pressure was decreased. The no. 1 engine did not respond and its rpm ran up and the radio failed. Pilot Wicker immediately cut the power to the engine and attempts were made to decrease the rpms using the propeller governor controls then the engineer Homer attempted to feather the engine unsuccessfully. The B-24 began to mush and loose altitude, the crew spotted a Patrol Boat YP#420 and flew over it, and increased the throttle to the other engines before ditching roughly 4 miles east of Bomber 1 on Espirito Santo. On impact, the B-24 did not bounce but broke into two pieces at the fuselage around the ball turret, with the tail section sinking immediately. The nose section with the wings attached nosed up nearly vertically, submerging the radio room and cockpit section before sinking roughly three to four minutes afterwards. Fates of the Crew Three of the crew: Wicker, Foster and Homer survived the ditching. Pilot Wicker escaped from underwater using the escape hatch and swam to the surface. Foster also managed to swim to the surface. Meanwhile, Homer managed to deploy one of the life rafts. Approximately ten minutes after the crash, the three surviving crew were rescued by Patrol Boat YP#420 and returned to duty. Two of the crew: Temple and Frederick were likely knocked unconscious during the crash landing and went down with the bomber. Their bodies were never recovered. Both remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Temple and Frederick were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Both are memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at the courts of the missing. Temple at court 5. Frederick at court 7. Wicker remained in the U.S. Army and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He passed away on November 24, 1961 and was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at section H, site 1523. Homer remained in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. During the Korean War, Homer was a crew member aboard a RB-29A Superfortress Serial Number 44-61810 Missing In Action (MIA) June 13, 1952. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Clinton S. Wicker NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William R. Homer USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-155-CO Liberator 42-72794 "72794 (5th BG, 23rd BS) lost Oct 1, 1943. MACR 725" Missing Air Crew Report 725 (MACR 725) FindAGrave - Clinton S Wicker American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John A. Temple American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Francois X. Frederick FindAGrave - Capt John A Temple (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Francois X Frederick (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - William R. Homer (photo, memorial marker Arlington) FindAGrave - Sgt William Robert Homer (photos) 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  Map Oct 1, 1943  MIA 2 Missing |
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