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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 14th AF 308th BG 425th BS |
Pilot Major Harry H. Musinski, O-412688 (MIA / KIA) Gardner, MA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Toney W. Gochnauer, O-749229 (MIA / KIA) TX Navigator 2nd Lt. John B. Frazier, O-682171 (MIA / KIA) MI Bombardier 2nd Lt. George R. Maupin, O-678542 (MIA / KIA) TN Radio TSgt Joseph P. Kurta, 35514251 (MIA / KIA) OH Asst. Radio SSgt. Donah L. Adams, 6955676 (MIA / KIA) Lesley, TX Engineer TSgt. Wellington W. Hull, 19077752 (MIA / KIA) CA Asst. Engineer SSgt. John W. Karns, 33249171 (MIA / KIA) Monroe, PA Passenger 1st Lt. Charles H. Mortimer, 1689697 (MIA / KIA) NY Passenger SSgt. Robert O. Watson, 39022510 (MIA / KIA) CA Passenger TSgt. Jack R. Ferguson, 38137073 (MIA / KIA) Sulphur Springs, TX Passenger TSgt. Edward W. Higgins, 18057807 (MIA / KIA) Philadelphia, PA Crashed January 25, 1944 MACR 2139 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego during 1941. Constructors Number 7. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-25-CO Liberator 42-73242. When lost, engines 42-92760, 42-93001, 42-38089 and 42-92839. Wartime History Assigned to the 14th Air Force (14th AF), 308th Bombardment Group (308th BG), 425th Bombardment Squadron (425th BS). Assigned to pilot Lt. Roger P. Haley who nicknamed the bomber "Haley's Comet". Mission History On January 25, 1944 around 7:00am took off from Kunming Airfield in China piloted by Major Harry H. Musinski on a ferry flight bound for Chabua Airfield in India. When this B-24 failed to arrive it was declared Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost is B-24J "Hot As Hell" 42-73308 pilot 1st Lt. William A. Swanson (MIA). Wreckage On January 4, 2011 this crash site was visited by Clayon Kuhles / MIA Recoveries. Memorials The entire crew as officially declared dead on January 26, 1946. As the mission was non-combat, none of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Musinski earned Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. He also has a memorial marker at Wildwood Cemetery in Gardner, MA. Gochnauer earned the Air Medal. Fraiser earned the Air Medal. He also has a memorial marker at Fort Custer National Cemetery at Augusta, MI at plot MA, site 15. Maupin earned the Air Medal. He also has a memorial marker at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO at MB, 337 and Riverside Cemetery in Sterling, CO. Kurta earned the Air Medal. Adams earned the Air Medal. He is also memorialized on that Monument to Aviation Martyrs Nanjing Memorial in Nanjing, China. Hull earned the Air Medal. Watson earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal. Ferguson earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal, Purple Heart w/Oak Leaf Cluster. He is also memorialized at Sulphur Springs City Cemetery in Sulphur Springs, TX. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-25-CO Liberator 42-73242 "73242 (308th BG) lost Jan 25, 1944. MACR 2139" Missing Air Crew Report 2139 (MACR 2139) created January 27, 1944 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harry B. Musinski American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Toney W. Gochnauer American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John B. Frazier American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George R. Maupin American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph P. Kurta American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donah L. Adams American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wellington W. Hull American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John W. Karns American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles H. Mortimer American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert O. Watson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jack R. Ferguson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward W. Higgins FindAGrave - Maj Harry H "Moosh" Musinski (photos, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Maj Harry H Musinski (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Toney W Gochnauer (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2Lt John Burke Frazier, Jr (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut John Burke Frazier, Jr (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt George R Maupin (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - George R Maupin (photo, Riverside Cemetery memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - George R Maupin (photo, Fort Logan National Cemetery memorial marker photo2) FindAGrave - TSgt Joseph Paul Kurta (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Donah Lee Adams (tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - Sgt Donah L Adams (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Wellington W Hull (tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - SSgt John W Karns (tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - Sgt John W. Karns (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Charles Howard Mortimer (tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - SSgt Robert O Watson (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - TSgt Jack Robert Ferguson (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Jack Robert Ferguson (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Edward Wallace Higgins (tablets of the missing) China Up And Down by John T Foster "Disastrous Day Over Hump!' The plane was named after Lt Roger P Haley, Pilot, who was not on the plane the day it went missing. Instead, his replacement was Major Harry Musinski." MIA Recoveries - B-24J 42-73242 Expedition Photo Gallery MIA Recoveries - Letter by George R. Maupin October 20, 1992 MIA Recoveries - B-24J 42-73242 Crashed Aircraft Site Report [PDF] Stars and Stripes "One final trip: Remains from 1944 India crash site coming home to US" April 8, 2016 Thanks to Clayon Kuhles and Gary Zaetz 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
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