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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 13th AF 5th BG 72nd BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. William C. Robison, O-736368 (MIA / KIA) Luzerne County, PA Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Walter C. Botts, O-676614 (MIA / KIA) KY Navigator 1st Lt. Robert H. Smith, O-667445 (MIA / KIA) Terre Haute, IN Bombardier 1st Lt. Robert C. Heddrick, O-671357 (MIA / KIA) Queens, NY Engineer Sgt John McIntyre, 32434292 (MIA / KIA) Westchester County, NY Asst. Engineer SSgt Kenneth H. Winham, 18133906 (MIA / KIA) LA Radio Sgt Jack Dolsky, 16124052 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Asst. Radio SSgt Vincent R. Brady, 10100436 (MIA / KIA) HI Gunner SSgt Albion T. Huffman, 38121812 (MIA / KIA) Gunner SSgt Michael Thomas, 35210565 (MIA / KIA) MIA April 2, 1944 MACR 14289 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-15-CO Liberator Serial Number 42-73148. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field to the South Pacific (SOPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG) "Bomber Barons", 72nd Bombardment Squadron (72nd BS). No known nickname or nose art. Also known as #148 for the last three digits of the serial number. When lost, engines serial numbers and weapon serial number not noted in Missing Air Crew Report 14289 (MACR 14289). Mission History On April 2, 1944 at 8:15am took off thirty minutes late from Nissan Airfield (Green Island) (APO 717, Unit 1) piloted by 1st Lt. William C. Robison on a bombing mission against Truk. Prior to take off, this crew was scheduled to fly B-24 Liberator #232 until a fuel truck accidentally collided with it damaging the wing. Instead, the crew transfered to this bomber and took off 30 minutes later. It was presumed this B-24 flew to the northwest to catchup with the rest of the formation which experienced a severe weather front between Green Island Atoll and Truk. After take off, this bomber was never seen again and was reported as Missing In Action (MIA). Search Returning from the mission, the other B-24s were instructed to drop down to 1,000' to search for any downed bombers or air crews, but nil sightings were made. Afterwards, U.S. Navy (USN) aircraft searched the general area for any lost aircraft with nil results. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 5, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Robison earned the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Botts earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Winchester Cemetery in Winchester, KY at section E, Lot 134, Grave 4. Smith earned the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Memory Garden Cemetery in Rockville, IN. Heddrick earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. McIntyre earned the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters , Purple Heart, posthumously. Winham earned the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Rocky Mount Cemetery in Rocky Mount, LA. Previously, on June 16, 1943 he survived the ditching of B-24D 42-40250 and was rescued. Dolsky earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Brady earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Huffman earned the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Thomas earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-15-CO Liberator 42-73148 "73148 (5th BG) lost Apr 2, 1945. MACR 14289. The MACR actually lists the serial number as being 42-70148 [sic] which was a P-63." Missing Air Crew Report 14289 (MACR 14289) created March 8, 1945 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William C. Robison American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Walter C. Botts American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert H. Smith American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert C. Heddrick American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John McIntyre American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kenneth H. Winham American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jack Dolsky American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Vincent R. Brady American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Albion T. Huffman American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Michael Thomas FindAGrave - 1Lt William C Robison (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1Lt Walter C Botts (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Walter C. Botts (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Robert Hargett Smith (obituary, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Robert Hargett Smith (obituary, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Robert C Heddrick (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt John McIntyre (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Kenneth H Winham (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Kenneth H Winham (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Jack Dolsky (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Vincent R Brady (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Albion T. Huffman (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Michael Thomas (tablets of the missing) 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 April 2, 1944  MIA 10 Missing |
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