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| USAAF 14th AF 308th BG 374th BS   Nippon News November 1943 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Newton J. Kellam, O-802926 (POW, survived) NY Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Fred K. Schwall, O-684782 (POW, survived) OH Navigator 2nd Lt. John O. Marcelio, O-802655 (POW, survived) Bombardier 2nd Lt. George E. Harmon, O-678464 (POW, survived) CA Engineer SSgt Perry Marshall, 14156113 (POW, survived) PA Radio SSgt Thomas E. Seneef, 33290016 (POW, survived) PA Asst Engineer Sgt Charles W. Perry, 14156141 (POW, survived) TN Asst Radio Sgt Norman E. Albinson, 13176804 (POW died August 18, 1944 BR, MIA) Camden County, NJ Armor Gunner Sgt William H. Thomas, 17175086 (POW, survived) KS Asst Armor Gunner Sgt Don Z. Davis, 17162249 (POW, survived) IL Force Landed November 27, 1943 MACR 1205 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2882. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-30-CO Liberator serial number 42-73312. Ferried overseas to India. Wartime History Assigned to the 14th Air Force (14th AF), 308th Bombardment Group (308th BG), 374th Bombardment Squadron (374th BS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines 1830-65 serial numbers BP-425911, BP-425446, BP-425256 and BP-425237. Weapon serial numbers were not noted in Missing Air Crew Report 1205 (MACR 1205). Mission History On November 27, 1943 took off from Panagarh Airfield in India piloted by 2nd Lt. Newton J. Kellam on a course of 140° on a bombing mission Insein north of Rangoon in Burma. The weather was clear. About forty minutes from Insein, this B-24 apparently under complete control, left the formation and was observed to proceed in a northeasterly direction into the interior of Burma. Last observed at 12:05 at roughly Lat 18° 10' N Long 94° 38' E. The circumstance of the loss for the aircraft were unknown. When this plane failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was B-24J "Maxwell House III" 412-73245. TSgt T. L. Humphries noted in Missing Air Crew Report 1205 (MACR 1205): "I saw B-24J 42-73312 peel off and drop its landing gear at the same time our flight leader Lt. Gurtis did. He then pulled his gear back up and came back up into formation on our height. He was about 40 minutes from the target when he again peeled off to the right and came back under our ship going to our left at about 90 degrees to us. We had a heading of 140 degrees at that time. His engines were all running O. K. and the ship seemed to be under complete control. I watched him about 300 yards out and he was keeping the same heading." In fact, this B-24 experienced engine trouble and force landed with the entire crew unhurt. Search No search was conducted for the missing plane. Wreckage This B-24 force landed largely intact in a flat grass covered area of Burma. Afterwards, the intact bomber was camouflaged with branches and vegetation, likely by the Japanese or locals working under their direction an attempt to prevent the bomber from being spotted by Allied planes. Shortly after the crash landing, Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) personnel investigated the B-24. A camera crew took cine footage of the bomber that later aired in Nippon News newsreels. The cine film shows the bomber's top turret, tail turret with the perspex broken or removed, fuselage U.S. Star and bar insignia and tail with "273312" [42-73312] visible. A group of at least a dozen Japanese were at the bomber. Afterwards, the was likely stripped for intelligence material and usable parts. Justin Taylan adds: "According to the Japanese, the B-24 developed engine problems over Burma and that the entire crew parachuted and were filmed by the Japanese. Later, this film was broadcast as part of Nippon News. The film shows the B-24 crash landed, as if it force landed. The wreckage is camouflaged with branches and shrubs, by either the American crew or the Japanese to hide the wreckage and being inspected by Japanese Army soldiers. Also the captured crew is shown being interrogated." Fate of the Crew The entire crew of ten were captured by the Japanese and became Prisoners Of War (POW). Their captured was filmed by the Japanese and later broadcast as part of Nippon News. Afterwards, all were transported to Rangoon where they were detained and interrogated at Rangoon Prison. Justin Taylan adds: "According to the Japanese, the B-24 developed engine problems over Burma and that the entire crew parachuted and were filmed by the Japanese. Later, this film was broadcast as part of Nippon News. The film shows the B-24 crash landed, as if it force landed. The wreckage is camouflaged with branches and shrubs, by either the American crew or the Japanese to hide the wreckage and being inspected by Japanese Army soldiers. Also the captured crew is shown being interrogated." Afterwards, the crew languished in Rangoon Prison. On August 18, 1944 Albinson died from malnutrition, beri beri and dysentery and was buried at Rangoon Cantonment Cemetery. The other nine crew members survived the Pacific War and were liberated on May 4, 1945 including Kellam, Schwall, Harmon, Marshall, Seneef, Perry, Albinson, Thomas and Davis. Afterwards, they were transported to the United States. Postwar, Marcelio was based at Stewart Field, Newburgh NY. Pilot Kellam was living in Syracuse, NY. Recovery of Remains Postwar, the remains of some of the Allied POWs that died at Rangoon Prison including Albinson were exhumed by American Graves Registration Service (AGRS). On May 17, 1946 the remains of Allied POWs including Albinson in twelve cases were loaded aboard C-47B Skytrain 43-48308 piloted by 1st Lt. Melvin L. Power and flown from Rangoon Airfield on a flight bound for India and went Missing with the loss of the entire crew and all the remains aboard. Memorials Albinson was officially declared dead on August 18, 1944. He earned the Air Medal. He remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Schwall died August 5, 2018 at age 96. He is buried at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery in Dixon, CA at Col. 2, Court I, Site 83-B. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Newton J. Kellam NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Norman E. Albinson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Don Z. Davis USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-30-CO Liberator - 42-73312 "73312 (308th BG) suffered engine failure, abandoned, and crash landed in Burma Nov 27, 1943. MACR 1205. 10 POW, one died in prison camp." Missing Air Crew Report 1205 (MACR 1205) NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Newton J. Kellam NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Fred K. Schwall NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File does not list John O. Marcelio NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - George E. Harmon NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Perry Marshall NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Charles W. Perry NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Norman E. Albinson NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - William H. Thomas NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Don Z. Davis American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Norman E. Albinson FindAGrave - Norman E. Albinson (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Fred K. Schwall (grave photo) 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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