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| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 319th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt Gordon E. Friedline, O-799748 (MIA / KIA) Johnstown, PA Co-Pilot 1st Lt Laddie W. Taylor, O-792554 (MIA / KIA) Milmine, IL Navigator 2ndLt Alvin N. Etzel, O-670721 (MIA / KIA) Milwaukee, WI Bombardier 1stLt Cleve R. Molloy, O-669373 (MIA / KIA) Kalamazoo, MI Weather Observer 2nd Lt Bronislaus W. Prusak, O-804869 (MIA / KIA) Lansaster, NY Engineer T/Sgt Lloyd O. Hixson, 18084576 (MIA / KIA) Dunlap, TN Radio T/Sgt Melvin A. Block, 32517918 (MIA / KIA) Brooklyn, NY Gunner S/Sgt John C. Nason Jr., 13145405 (MIA / KIA) Philipsburg, PA Gunner S/Sgt Percy M. Metcalf, 31146780 (MIA / KIA) Lubec, ME Gunner S/Sgt Leslie R. Hazelbaker, 15337962 (MIA / KIA) Bueua Vista, OH Gunner S/Sgt John T. Heckwolf, 32455504 (MIA / KIA) Baltimore, MD Radar Cpl Carl A. Butler, 38121242 (MIA / KIA) Trent, TX Photographer SSgt Joseph Beirach, 12007348 (MIA / KIA) Kingston, NY MIA January 16, 1944 at 10:03am MACR 2084 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in San Diego. Constructors Number 2374. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-155-CO Liberator serial number 42-72804. Ferried 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) "Jolly Rogers", 319th Bombardment Squadron (319th BS) "Asterperious". No nose art or nickname is known. When lost, engines R-1830-65 serial numbers 42-90258, 42-90056, 42-90071, 42-90700. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns serial numbers listed in Missing Air Crew Report 2084 (MACR 2084). Mission History On January 16, 1944 took off from Dobodura No. 12 Airfield (North Embi Airfield) piloted by 1st Lt Gordon E. Friedline on a reconnaissance mission north and northwest over the Bismarck Sea. Weather was 8/10 alto stratus with a base of 15,000'. 3/10 cumulus with tops at 6,000' and 30 mile visibility. Last reported position by radio was at Lat 4.00 Long 146.00, roughly 75 miles northeast of Alexishafen over the Bismarck Sea. When this bomber failed to return and was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 9, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Friedline earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Jenners Crossroads Cemetery in Jenners Crossroads, PA. Taylor earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Etzel earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Valhalla Memorial Park in Milwaukee, WI at section M. Molloy earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Prusak earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Hixson earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Block earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Nason earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Metcalf earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Lamson Cemetery in Lubec, ME. Hazelbaker earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at McKendree Cemetery in Buena Vista, OH. Heckwolf earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Butler earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Beirach earned the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters and Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, posthumously. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-155-CO Liberator 42-72804 Missing Air Crew Report 2084 (MACR 2084) created January 17, 1944 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-72804 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gordon E. Friedline FindAGrave - 1LT Gordon E. Friedline (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Gordon Edgar Friedline (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Laddie W. Taylor FindAGrave - 1LT Laddie Wright Taylor (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alvin N. Etzel FindAGrave - 2Lt Alvin N Etzel (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Alvin Etzel (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Cleve R. Molloy FindAGrave - 1LT Cleve Robert Molloy (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Bronislaus W. Prusak FindAGrave - 2LT Bronislaus W. Prusak (news, tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lloyd O. Hixson FindAGrave - TSGT Lloyd Odell Hixson (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Melvin A. Block FindAGrave - TSGT Melvin Albert Block (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John C. Nason Jr. FindAGrave - SSGT John Colebrook Nason Jr. (photos, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Percy M. Metcalf FindAGrave - SSGT Percy M. Metcalf (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Percy M. Metcalf (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leslie R. Hazelbaker FindAGrave - SSGT Leslie R Hazelbaker (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Leslie R Hazelbaker (memorial marker) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John T. Heckwolf FindAGrave - SSGT John Theodore Heckwolf (photo, news, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Carl A. Butler FindAGrave - CPL Carl Arnold Butler (photo, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph Beirach FindAGrave - SSgt Joseph Beirach (tablets of the missing photo) 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 |
 B-24  Map Jan 16, 1944  MIA 13 Missing |
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