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| USAAF 13th AF 307th BG 370nd BS  USAAF c1944 |
Pilot 2nd Lt Anthony F. Diederich, O-697342 (MIA / KIA) Monroe, NB Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Robert W. Pomeroy, O-768215 (MIA / KIA) New Boston, IL Navigator 2nd Lt Eugene W. Garrett, O-708251 (MIA / KIA) Sacramento, CA Bombardier 2nd Lt Andrew Sekanics, O-703402 (MIA / KIA) Garfield, NJ Engineer SSgt Kenneth W. Seiler, 32762907 (MIA / KIA) Little Ferry, NJ Assistant Engineer Cpl Clint D. Hundley, 38135303 (MIA / KIA) Wichita Falls, TX Radio SSgt Robert F. Jacobs, 33738013 (MIA / KIA) Washington, DC Assistant Radio Cpl Charles F. Reynolds, 37676896 (MIA / KIA) Mont Ayr, IA Gunner Cpl John O. Dunbar, Jr., 37540207 (MIA / KIA) Columbus, KS Armorer-Gunner Sgt William E. Crowley, 16004052 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Camera-Gunner Sgt William E. Moores, 36647606 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL MIA July 15, 1944 MACR 6924 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2689. At the factory completed with an aluminum finish. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-15-CO Liberator serial number 42-73119. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field to then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SOPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 307th Bombardment Group (307th BG), 372nd Bombardment Squadron (372nd BS). No known nose art or nickname. Known as "119", for the last three digits of the serial number. When lost, engines R-1830-65 serial numbers CP 309284, BP 346627, CP 310135 and CP 307777. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown not listed in Missing Air Crew Report 6924 (MACR 6924). Mission History On July 15, 1944 took off from Mokerang Airfield on Los Negros Island piloted by 2nd Lt Anthony F. Diederich on a bombing mission against Yap Island. The weather was a high overcast with alto stratus clouds at 15,000' and .2 low cumulus with tops at 3,000' and visibility of 1-2 miles. Ten minutes before reaching the target, the formation was intercepted by A6M Zeros with one attacking from 2 o'clock high. After the attack, this B-24 was seen to fall off to the left and come down directly on top of B-24J 44-40555. Both bombers burst into flames hanging together for several seconds before breaking up. This B-24 broke behind the wing and the right was observed to crumple on fire. Both B-24s impacted the sea close together at roughly Lat 9° 8' N Long 138° 17' E roughly 5-8 miles south of Yap Island. The impact and crash were observed by several crew members aboard several other bombers in the formation. When both bomber failed to return, their crews were officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. The entire crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Diederich also has a memorial marker at Saint Bonaventure Cemetery in Columbus, NB. Pomeroy also has a memorial marker at New Boston Cemetery in New Boston, IL. Reynolds also has a memorial marker at Clearfield Cemetery in Ringgold County IA. Crowley also has a memorial marker at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at plot: MW, 173. Relatives Sharon Edwards (daughter of Sgt. William Edward Crowley) References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D 42-73119 "73119 (307th BG) lost Jul 15, 1944, South Pacific. MACR 6924" Missing Air Crew Report 6924 (MACR 6924) created July 17, 1944 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Anthony F. Diederich American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert W. Pomeroy American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Eugene W. Garrett American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Andrew Sekanics American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kenneth W. Seiler American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Clint D. Hundley American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert F. Jacobs American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles F. Reynolds American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John O. Dunbar, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William E. Crowley American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William E. Moores FindAGrave - 2Lt Anthony Francis Diederich, Jr (photos, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Anthony Frances Diederich, Jr (photo, memorial marker) FindAGrave - 2Lt Robert W Pomeroy (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Robert W Pomeroy (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Eugene W Garrett (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2Lt Andrew Sekanics (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Kenneth W Seiler (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Kenneth W Seiler (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Clint D Hundley (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Robert F Jacobs (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Corp Charles Francis Reynolds (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Capt Charles Francis Reynolds, Jr (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Corp John Owen Dunbar, Jr (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt William Edward Crowley (photos, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt William Edward Crowley (photos, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt William E Moores (memorial marker photo) Missing Air Crew - Yap Island Mission Loss—15 July 1944 Missing Air Crew - Diederich Crew—Lost on 15 July 1944 near Yap, MACR #6924 Missing Air Crew - 2nd Lt. Anthony Diederich, Jr.—Lost 15 July 1944 near Yap AWON - SGT William Edward Crowley 13 AF, 307th BG, 372 BS KIA 15 July, 1944 Thanks to Sharon Edwards 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
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 B-24  MIA 11 Missing  Map July 15, 1944 |
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