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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 64th BS  43rd BG c1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt. John C. Duvall, O-677685 (MIA / KIA) Washington, PA Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Fred M. Vosse, O-674916 (MIA / KIA) IL Navigator 2nd Lt. Edward K. Cornelius, O-688628 (MIA / KIA) Camden County, NJ Bombardier 2nd Lt. William B. Edwards, O-688325 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA Radar 1st Lt. Roy L. Bridges, O-859788 (MIA / KIA) Wichita Falls, TX Engineer SSgt Charles V. Meeder, 13134649 (MIA / KIA) Girard, PA Radio TSgt Edward Jennings, 32662937 (MIA / KIA) Albany County, NY Asst Engineer SSgt Thomas K. Manning, 35392158 (MIA / KIA) OH Asst Radio SSgt Archie N. Jones, 06251438 (MIA / KIA) CA Gunner SSgt Conard J. Hembree, 34721821 (MIA / KIA) TN Gunner Sgt Richard M. Farnsworth, 31294168 (MIA / KIA) MA MIA June 13, 1944 at 9:00pm MACR 9340 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2381. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-155-CO Liberator serial number 42-72811. Flown overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). This bomber was equipped with radar. Wartime History During January 1944 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS). Nicknamed "Uncle Sam" (with double quotes) with the nose art of the head of the Uncle Sam with a white goatee and white hair and bow tie wearing a striped top hat. On the left side of the nose below the cockpit was a scoreboard with bomb markings indicating missions flown and Purple Hearts inside white squares indicating crew members injured aboard on missions. The tail had serial number 272811 [shortened version of 42-72811] and large "811" the last three digits of the serial number with a diagonal white stripe. When lost, engines R-1830-43 serial number 41-13279, 41-44891, 42-3253 and 41-17319. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers listed in Missing Air Crew Report 9340 (MACR 9340). Mission History On June 13, 1944 took off from Mokerang Airfield on Los Negros piloted by 1st Lt. John C. Duvall as the pathfinder plane for a on a bombing mission against Yap Island. The formation included B-24s from the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) including the 319th Bombardment Squadron (319th BS) and 320th Bombardment Squadron (320th BS). Inbound to the target, the weather was a tropical front from the equator to 50 miles south of Yap Island with rain and two miles of visibility. This B-24 was last seen around 9:00pm near the equator and Sau Island in the Caroline Islands. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search Around 9:00pm, two B-24s from the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) reported seeing a bomber burst into flames and crash into the sea. B-24 piloted by 1st Lt. J. Frank Dingee circled the burning wreckage at 1,000' to 1,500' and determined the wreckage was a large aircraft and turned on their landing lights and circled but saw no survivors. The next day, an exensive search was conducted for this crew by a U.S. Navy (USN) Catalina that found the same wreckage and searched for hours without spotting any sign of any survivors. Memorials The entire crew are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Duvall earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Vosse earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Cornelius earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, NJ at MA, 8. Edwards earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Bridges earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Crestview Memorial Park in Wichita Falls, TX. Meeder earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Girard Cemetery in Girard, PA. Jennings earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Manning earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Saint Patricks Cemetery in Salineville, OH. Jones earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Hembree earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Farnsworth earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John C. Duvall NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Fred M. Vosse, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward K. Cornelius NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William B. Edwards NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Roy L. Bridges NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Charles V. Meeder NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward Jennings NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Archie N. Jones NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Conard J. Hembree NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard M. Farnsworth Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) - Roy L. Bridges USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-155-CO Liberator 42-72811 "72811 (43rd BG) lost Jun 13, 1944. MACR 9340" Missing Air Crew Report 9340 (MACR 9340) created June 15, 1944 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John C. Duvall American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Fred M. Vosse American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward K. Cornelius American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William B. Edwards American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Roy L. Bridges American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles V. Meeder American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward Jennings American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas K. Manning American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Archie N. Jones American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Conard J. Hembree American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard M. Farnsworth FindAGrave - 1Lt John C Duvall (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Fred M Vosse (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Edward K Cornelius (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Edward Kenneth Cornelius (photos, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2LT William B Edwards (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1Lt Roy Lee Bridges (photo, tablets of the missing photo) profile states lost of France [sic] FindAGrave - LT Roy Lee Bridges (memorial marker photo) B-29 outline "Lost over Sau Island" FindAGrave - SSgt Charles Vernon Meeder (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Charles V. Meeder (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Edward Jennings (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Thomas K Manning (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Thomas K. Manning (obituary, news, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Archie N. Jones (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Conard J. Hembree (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Richard M Farnsworth (tablets of the missing photo) Ken' Men Against The Empire (2005) pages 130 (June 13, 1944 photos), 358 (42-72811), 373, (64th BS: 42-72811), 444 (index Duvall), 462 (index Uncle Sam) 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  Photo Archive  Map June 13, 1944  MIA 11 Missing |
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