|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 10th AF 7th BG 436th BS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. John E. McLauchlen, Jr., O-797160 (MIA / KIA) Detroit, MI Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Elden W. Watts, O-680554 (MIA / KIA) Yukon, OK Navigator 2nd Lt. Pershing E. Bowes, O-674124 (MIA / KIA) Flushing, NY Bombardier 2nd Lt. Gilbert A. Rauh, O-738787 (MIA / KIA) Thornwood, NY Engineer TSgt Roman J. Ropinski, 16034281 (MIA / KIA) Jefferson, WI Radio TSgt Harold L. Seifreid, 13080602 (MIA / KIA) Philadelphia, PA Gunner Sgt Charles W. Morley, 19017399 (MIA / KIA) East Hartford, CT Gunner SSgt Frank J. Tedone, 11094405 (MIA / KIA) Corpus Christi, TX Gunner SSgt Claude E. Nixon, 38114201 (MIA / KIA) Alliance, OH Gunner SSgt Edward K. Pyle, 35300957 (MIA / KIA) Aberdeen, WA Crashed December 1, 1943 MACR 1223 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2766. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-20-CO Liberator serial number 42-73196. Ferried overseas to India. Wartime History Assigned to the 7th Bomber Group, 436th Bomber Squadron. No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engine and weapon serial numbers noted in Missing Air Crew Report 1223 (MACR 1223). Mission History On December 1, 1943 took off from Panagarh Airfield in India on a bombing mission against against Insein north of Rangoon in Burma. The weather was poor visibility due to clouds. After the bombing run, this B-24 was hit by anti-aircraft fire in the left wing and began smoking badly and dove sharply to the left and was chased by three Japanese fighters. Last seen descending into a cloud bank. When this bomber failed to return it was officiallly listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was B-24J "Tough Baba" 42-73159 pilot 1st Lt. Granvill B. Stringfellow (MIA). In fact, this B-24 crashed near Yodayadet, Burma. After the crash, the Japanese instructed locals to bury the crew in two large graves. Recovery of Remains During 1947, a team from e American Grave Registration Service (AGRS) exhumed the graves and recovered remains that were designated Unknowns X-505A, X-505B, X-505C, X-505D, X-505E, X-505F, X-505G, and X-505H Barrackpore (X-505A-H). They were unable to be identified and shipped to Hawaii for burial. Memorials The entire crew (with the exception of Bowes) was officially declared dead on February 4, 1946. Bowes was officially declared dead on April 4, 1946, in error. Each of the crew member earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. The remains recovered by AGRS in 1947 were later buried as unknowns at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). During 2019, a family disinterment request for Unknown X-505A-H. The request was approved in October 2020 and the remains were studied by the DPAA (DPAA) laboratory and tested using dental, anthropological, circumstantial and material evidence plus mDNA analysis. The unknown was identified as TSgt Harold L. Seifreid who was accounted-for by the Department of Defense (DoD) on November 21, 2023. At a later date, he will be buried in Marana, Arizona. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-20-CO Liberator 42-73196 "73196 (7th BG, 436th BS) shot down by AAA and fighters at Rangoon, Burma Dec 1, 1943. MACR 1223. 10 KIA" Missing Air Crew Report 1223 (MACR 1223) created December 2, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John E. McLauchlen Jr American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Elden W. Watts American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Pershing E. Bowes date of death in error American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gilbert A. Rauh American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Roman J. Ropinski American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold L. Seifreid American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles W. Morley American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank J. Tedone American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Claude E. Nixon American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward K. Pyle FindAGrave - 2Lt John Elbridge McLauchlen, Jr (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Elden W Watts (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Pershing E Bowes (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Gilbert Andrew Robert Rauh (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Roman J Ropinski (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Harold L Seifreid (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Charles W Morley (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Frank J Tedone (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Claude Eldon Nixon (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Edward K Pyle (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
|
 B-24  MIA10 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
