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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 13th AF 307th BG 424th BS  307th BG 1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Clyde A. Friend, O-662771 (MIA / KIA) Mayes County, OK Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Gerald L. Darr, O-791396 (MIA / KIA) Clearfield County, PA Navigator 1st Lt. Mason Prescott, O-667428 (MIA / KIA) Franklin County, ME Bombardier 1st Lt. Norris A. Nelson, O-663302 (MIA / KIA) Morgan County, UT Engineer TSgt William H. Adams, 14071345 (MIA / KIA) Bogalusa, LA Asst. Engineer SSgt Malcolm E. Smith, 18057179 (MIA / KIA) Sutton County, TX Radio TSgt Eugene Hyden, 15056327 (MIA / KIA) Floyd County, KY Asst. Radio SSgt James I. Buchanan, 13047833 (MIA / KIA) Blair County, PA Gunner SSgt William M. Bush, 12003505 (MIA / KIA) La Fayette, NY Gunner SSgt James E. Hoffman, 13030997 (MIA / KIA) Wiconisco, PA MIA November 14, 1943 at 10:35am MACR 1076 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2711. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-15-CO Liberator Serial Number 42-73141. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field to the South Pacific (SOPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 307th Bombardment Group (307th BG) "Long Rangers", 424th Bombardment Squadron (424th BS). No known nickname or nose art. Also known as #141 for the last three digits of the serial number. When lost, engines R-1830-65 serial numbers 42-89174, 42-91418, 42-89073 and 42-89130. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On November 14, 1943 took off from Koli Field (Bomber 3) on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt. Clyde A. Friend as one of eighteen B-24s on a bombing mission against Kahili Airfield (Buin) on Bougainville. Inbound, the weather was overcast with very poor visibility. Over the target, the formation experienced heavy anti-aircraft fire. Last seen at 10:35am at approximately 7°S 156° 20' E. Afterwards, this bomber was not in radio contact and none of the other B-24s saw it crash. When this aircraft failed to return officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).The loss was assumed to be lost due to anti-aircraft fire over the target. Search On November 15, 1943 three B-24s from 307th BG led by Major Noel S. Benson searched for nine hours over the area where this bomber was last seen with negative results. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on January 22, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Friend earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Darr earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Prescott earned the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Riverside Cemetery in Farmington, ME. Nelson earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Milton Cemetery in Milton, UT at 8E. Adams earned the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. Smith earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with four Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. Hyden earned the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Buchanan earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Bush earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at LaFayette Cemetery in LaFayette, NY. Hoffman earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Calvary United Methodist Cemetery in Wiconisco, PA. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Gerald L. Darr NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Mason Prescott NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Norris A. Nelson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William H. Adams NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Malcolm E. Smith NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Eugene Hyden NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James I. Buchanan NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William M. Bush NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James E. Hoffman USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-15-CO Liberator 42-73141 "73141 (307th BG, 424th BS) lost Nov 14, 1943, Solomons. MACR 107" Missing Air Crew Report 1076 (MACR 1076) created November 15, 1943 serial number listed as 42-73-141 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Clyde A. Friend American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gerald L. Darr American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Mason Prescott American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Norris A. Nelson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William H. Adams American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Malcolm E. Smith American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Eugene Hyden American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James I. Buchanan American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William M. Bush American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James E. Hoffman FindAGrave - 1Lt Clyde A Friend (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Gerald L. Darr (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Mason Prescott (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Mason Prescott (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Norris Andrew Nelson (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Norris Andrew Nelson (news, memorial marker) Fold3 - Norris A. Nelson (photos) FindAGrave - TSgt William H Adams (tablets of the missing) Fold3 - William H Adams (photos) FindAGrave - SSgt Malcolm E Smith (obituary, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Eugene Hyden (obituary, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt James I Buchanan (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSGT William Millard Bush (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSGT William Millard Bush (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt James Edward Hoffman (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - James Edward Hoffman (memorial marker) 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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