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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 10th AF 7th BG 9th BS  USAAF 1943 |
Pilot 2nd Lt Carl F. Carpenter, O-742680 (MIA / KIA) MN Co-Pilot 2nd Lt William R. McCandless, O-683037 (MIA / KIA) IA Navigator 1st Lt Grant W. Erwin, Jr., O-558862 (POW, survived) WI Bombardier 2ndLT Clarence H. Clyborne (POW, died December 31, 1943) Engineer SSgt Robert McCarty, 12126491 (MIA / KIA) NY Radio SSgt William C. Fetterman, 13155731 (MIA / KIA) PA Gunner Eugene L. Moyers, 14160896 (MIA / KIA) TN Gunner Sgt Alfred L. Busby, 18193907 (MIA / KIA) OK Gunner Sgt Malcolm W. Carter, 31151547 (MIA / KIA) ME Armorer Gunner Sgt Paul L. Elyea, 36179569 (MIA / KIA) MI Crashed December 1, 1943 at 12:13 MACR 1226 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2792. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-25-CO Liberator serial number 42-73222. Ferried overseas China-Burma India (CBI) to India. Wartime History Assigned to the 10th Air Force (10th AF), 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG), 9th Bombardment Squadron (9th BS). Nicknamed "Bugs Bunny". When lost, engines R-1820-65 serial numbers RP425134, 42-93165, BP425217 and 42-92812. Weapon serial numbers noted in Missing Air Crew Report 1226 (MACR 1226). Mission History On December 1, 1943 took off from Pandaveswar Airfield in India piloted by 2nd Lt Carl F. Carpenter as one of fifty B-24s on a bombing mission against against Insein railway marshaling yards to the north of Rangoon in Burma. The regular navigator Kaufman was sick and was replaced by an experienced navigator 1st Lt. Grant W. Erwin who was The entire crew were on their first combat mission crew and had just arrived in India. The B-24 formation was escorted by P-51 Mustangs that rendezvoused late. Over the target, intercepted by enemy fighters roughly fifty miles southwest of Insein. This B-24 was set on fire and engulfed in flames. Only two of the crew (Erwin and Clyborne) were able to bail out from roughly 200'. The bomber crashed near Bassein, exploding when it hit the ground. Fates of the Crew Erwin and Clyborne survived and were captured by the Japanese and transported to Rangoon POW Camp. Clyborn died in captivity on December 31, 1943. Erwin survived and was liberated at the end of the war. Recovery of Remains Postwar, US Army AGRS recovered five sets of remains were recovered from a banana groove near the crash site where they were buried by local people or Japanese forces. On May 17, 1946, these remains were transported aboard C-47 43-48308 on a flight from Rangoon to Calcutta and crashed. Memorials The eight members of the crew who died aboard the bomber were officially declared dead on the day of the mission. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. Relatives Ruth Garmong (widow of Fetterman) adds: "My husband, Bill Fetterman, was the radio operater was on his third mission. I was also told that the plane was hit, and two bailed out, but only one survived. I would sure like to talk to anyone who may have known any of these men. I know it has been many years, but I was hoping maybe Kaufman was still around and could maybe tell me something about the crew. I would sure like to talk to anyone who may have known any of these men." References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-25-CO Liberator 42-73222 "73222 (7th BG, 9th BS, "Bugs Bunny") shot down by fighters at Bassein, Burma Dec 1, 1943. MACR 1226. 8 KIA, 2 POW" Missing Air Crew Report 1226 (MACR 1226) created December 2, 1943 pages 1-23 relates to this bomber and crew pages 24-33 relate to the crew of B-24D pilot Kavanagh force landed May 1, 1943. NARA Prisoners of War - Grant W. Erwin 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 / POW 2 Prisoners 8 Missing |
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