|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 319th BS  90th BG c1944 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Norman I. Dicker, O-691245 (MIA / KIA) Apokane, WA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt George A. Roffe, O-696805 (MIA / KIA) Groveland, NY Navigator 2nd Lt John C. Scott, O-698360 (MIA / KIA) Willis, TX Bombardier 2nd Lt Glenn T. Marker, O-566144 (MIA / KIA) Farmington, PA Engineer T/Sgt Emmett T. Carpenter Jr., 34588722 (MIA / KIA) Millry, AL Radio T/Sgt Charles W. Connelly, 39554960 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Fred A. Hamilton, 39279086 (MIA / KIA) San Bernardino, CA Nose Gunner S/Sgt Walter M. Wiggins, 38367407 (MIA / KIA) Georgetown, TX Waist / Turret Gunner S/Sgt Donald M. Budge, 17119312 (rescued) Story County, IA Tail Gunner SSgt Pete R. Molina, 38367084 (MIA / KIA) Austin, TX Passenger 1st Lt Raymond L. Schlager, O-666714 (rescued) Chicago, IL Crashed June 19, 1944 at 2:30am MACR 6116 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2813. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-20-CO Liberator serial number 42-73185. 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 known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines R-1830-65 serial numbers 42-63695, 42-59048, 42-54022 and 42-38535. Weapon serial numbers noted in Missing Air Crew Report 6116 (MACR 6116). Mission History On June 18, 1944 took off from Mokerang Airfield on Los Negros Island at 2:00pm piloted by 2nd Lt. Norman I. Dicker on a weather reconnaissance flight making radio reports every half hour flying within 100 miles southeast of Peleliu Island, then return to Mokerang Airfield. The weather was overcast and stormy forcing it to fly towards the New Guinea instead of returning to base. On June 19, 1944 between 2:05am and 2:40am, this B-25 circled over the Vitiaz Strait to the west of Long Island and off the northern coast of New Guinea due north of Saidor. At approximately 2:30am low on fuel, the crew decided to bail out over the sea. At least two of the crew successfully bailed out, the first was S/Sgt Donald M. Budge followed by 1st Lt Raymond L. Schlager. If any other of the crew bailed out is unknown. The fates of the other nine crew members are unknown. At 2:53am, this B-24's last position plotted by radar monitored by the 31st Fighter Sector as roughly over the north coast of New Guinea due south of Long Island. When this B-24 failed to return, the entire crew was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Rescue Schlager and Budge landed in the sea unhurt. That same day, both were rescued by an Australian sailboat at 12:10 and 12:20 roughly seven miles west of Long Island and later returned to duty. 1st Lt Raymond L. Schlager and S/Sgt Donald M. Budge stated in Missing Air Crew Report 6116 page 4: "We took off from Mokerang strip, Admiralty Islands, at 1400/K the 18 June, 1944... As far as known we were headed inland at the time of bailing." Search On June 20, 1944 an aerial search was made by two B-24s flying down the north coast of New Guinea from Hansa Bay to Finschafen. On June 23, 1944 another search was made following the track of the missing bomber as tracked by fighter sector radar. Each day between June 20-23, 1944 a single B-24 has searched the area where the two survivors were rescued and the course of the missing bomber. None of the searches located any trace of the bomber or the other members of the crew. Wreckage In fact, this B-24 flew inland and crashed into the mountains. It is unclear if the crew bailed out prior to the crash. This B-24 crash was was first located by local people and reported to the U.S. Government. During 2003, U.S. Army CILHI designated this crash site PP-00612. During early 2011, the site was again visited by a JPAC investigation team. Memorials The missing crew members were officially declared dead on February 26, 1946. Each crew member earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Roffe also has a memorial marker at Leicester Cemetery in Leicester, NY. Marker also has a memorial marker at Sansom Cemetery in Farmington, PA. Carpenter also has a memorial marker at Chatom Cemetery in Chatom, AL. Wiggins also has a memorial marker at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Georgetown, TX. Relatives Amanda London (cousin of Emmett T. Carpenter Jr.) Emily Carley (cousin of Emmett T. Carpenter Jr.) "I am trying to obtain some information on a cousin of mine who went missing in New Guinea during WWII. His name was Emmett Terry Carpenter and he was from Millry, AL. He served in the Army Air Corps, and his service number was 34588722. Anything you can do to help me and my family find information on his whereabouts or recovery would be great. I would love to help our family get some closure around his death and whereabouts and bring him home." George Roffe (nephew George A. Roffe) "My uncle was the co-pilot and I am his namesake. In an interesting coincidence, I now live in the city where his navigator was from (I've looked into finding his family, but they have passed and the next generation has moved away). It was very hard on my father when he lost his brother. Their sister, my aunt, is still alive and I've told her about this site. Your site provided more detail about the loss of my uncle that any other source through the years. For instance, nobody in my family knew the crew was lost flying a plane other than their usual plane and we never knew they were lost on a weather mission." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George A. Roffe NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Emmett T. Carpenter Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Charles W. Connelly NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Raymond L. Schlager NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Donald M. Budge USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-20-CO Liberator 42-73185 Missing Air Crew Report 6116 (MACR 6116) created June 22, 1944 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24J Liberator 42-73185 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Norman I. Dicker American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George A. Roffe American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John C. Scott American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Glenn T. Marker American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Emmett T. Carpenter Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles W. Connelly American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Fred A. Hamilton American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Walter M. Wiggins American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Pete R. Molina FindAGrave - 2Lt Norman I Dicker (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - George A Roffe (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt John C Scott (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Glenn T Marker (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Glenn T Marker (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Emmett T Carpenter, Jr (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Emmett T Carpenter, Jr (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Charles W Connelly (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Fred A Hamilton (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Walter M Wiggins (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Walter M. Wiggins (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Pete R. Molina (tablets of the missing photo) Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group page 123 Thanks to Robert Livingstone, Amanda London and Emily Carley 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
|
 B-24  Photo Archive  Map June 19, 1944  MIA9 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
