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| USAAF 13th AF 307th BG 370th BS   370th BS c1944 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. John D. Lucey, O-771070 (MIA / KIA, BR) CA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. William O. Goodlow, O-2058782 (MIA / KIA, BR) Ashland, OR Navigator 1st Lt. Harvey A. Max, O-707296 (MIA / KIA, BR) Providence, RI Bombardier 2nd Lt. Tris S. Hooker, O-776987 (MIA / KIA, BR) Wheeler, TX Engineer Sgt Forest R. Phibbs, 34665752 (MIA / KIA, BR) Burlington, NC Asst. Engineer Sgt George Hadjopoulos, 12225896 (MIA / KIA, BRN) Bronx, NY Radio Sgt Theodore R. Benner, 13145693 (MIA / KIA, BR) Blair County, PA Asst Radio Sgt John C. Grim, 39145646 (MIA / KIA, BR) Green Forest, AR Gunner Sgt William Carroll Dilsburg Jr., 33634952 (MIA / KIA, BR) Norfolk, VA Gunner Cpl Rudolph Szmans, 42103316 (MIA / KIA, BR) Irvington, NJ Photographer SSgt Harold R. Sargent, 39408838 (MIA / KIA, BRN) Canada Crashed January 8, 1945 MACR 11903 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 4489. At the factory completed with an aluminum finish. On April 18, 1944 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-170-CO Liberator serial number 44-40553. Project Number 96551-R. On April 20, 1944 to Tucson for modification. On May 4, 1944 to Hamilton Field. On May 19, 1944 to Fairfield Airfield. On May 22, 1944 departs Fairfield Airfield on a ferry flight via Hickam Field bound for the South Pacific (SoPAC) flying via Canton Airfield and Tontouta Airfield before arriving on Carney Field on Guadalcanal on May 29, 1944. The ferry flight time was 40 hours and 2 minutes. Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF) pool. On the left side of the nose was "553" in yellow for the last three digits of the serial number. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 307th Bombardment Group (307th BG) "Long Rangers", 370th Bombardment Squadron (370th BS). No known nose art or nickname. The tail had a large LR (Long Rangers) in a circle motif of the bomb group with a painted upper portion of the tail. On July 14, 1944 took off from Mokerang Airfield piloted by Kelley on a search mission that totaled 12 hours, 15 minutes. On August 10, 1944 took off from Mokerang Airfield piloted by Hobstetter on a bombing mission against Yap targeting anti-aircraft positions. On August 25, 1944 took off from Wakde Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Charles A. Kleist on a non-combat mission to test the bombsight. On September 2, 1944 took off from Wakde Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Charles A. Kleist armed with 20 x 250 pound bombs on a mission against a Japanese seaplane base in Palau and caused a large fire. Aboard, the photographer passed out. On September 30, 1944 took off from Noemfoor piloted by 1st Lt. Charles A. Kleist armed with 3 x 1,000 pound bombs on a bombing mission against Balikpapan on Borneo. Over the target, intercepted by three Zeros and returned with 600 gallons of fuel. On October 3, 1944 took off from Noemfoor piloted by Lt. Kelley armed with 10 x 250 pound bombs on a bombing mission against Balikpapan but the flaps jammed, jettisoned the bomb load and aborted the mission. On January 2, 1945 took off from Pitu Airfield (Pitoe) on Morotai piloted by 1st Lt. Charles A. Kleist armed with 20 x 250 pound bombs on a bombing mission against Lolobata on Halmahera. Over the target, anti-aircraft fire was nearby but returned without damage. When lost, engines R-1830-65A serial numbers BP-440770, PB-446463, BP-442483 and BP-442607. Armed with ten .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On January 8, 1945 took off from Pitu Airfield (Pitoe) on Morotai piloted by 2nd Lt. John D. Lucey on a bombing mission against Nielson Field in southern Manila on Luzon in the Philippines. The weather was clear with unrestricted visibility. The formation that flew via Naso Point on southwest Panay then northward bound for the target. This bomber was flying in position B-2. After the bomb run, hit by anti-aircraft fire and observed with a fire forward of the bomb bay that swept back. Three of the crew bailed out before the tail broke off the the rest of the bomber folded and exploded and both sections crashed and caused fires roughly 1,500' northwest of the Philippine Racing Club (PRC) in Makati. When this B-24 failed to return, their crews were officially declared Missing In Action (MIA) and officially condemned due to enemy action. F/O Leonard Ringel statement via MACR 11903 page 4: "As bombs went away I turned and looked out my right window and noticed that the aircraft flying in B-2 position 44-40553, had a fire in the front bomb bay. Within abeut 20-30 seconds his beth boni-bays were ablaze, at that time he started to skid towards the center of the formation. When he got near B-1 he started a peel-off away from the fornation, thus avoiding a collision. At that time I saw one man "fall" out of the front bemb-bay and two men jump out of the rear bomb-bay. About ten seconds later the airoraft was all ablaze and about 1,000 feet below and to the right of our formation. At that time he exploded in three distinct parts and fell in the outskirts of lanila, causing three firos there." Cpl Marion M. Baker statement via MACR 11903 page 5: "B Flight had just given bombs away over Nielson Airdrome and were beginning a right bank for a breakaway over the residential section of the town below when flak burst started appearing about 3,000' below B flight. In position B-3 from the ball turret I was following the mounting bursts of flak when my observation window suddenly turned on plane B-2 [this bomber] at three o'clock from us off our wing. There wa a bright red orange flame billoing from the forward bottom section of the bomb bays. In only an instant the flame multiplied itself and started sweeping fereciously back through the weist sectien, blow like a bellows by the open bemb bay door. One man came out of the hatch (rear) apparently unscathed. The plane, still burning terribly (all over by now), kept fermation for 15-20 seconds and then started a slow steep right bank. Two mere men came out of the rear hatch at this point, beth smoking. They inmediately opened their also sneking chutes but I never saw them billow out for the empanage broke off at the rear hatch. and took off right behind them, two men like a flaming torch. The rest of the plane dived on down a matter of five seconds and just folded up and exploded sending two large and many small balls of fire down into the residential section of town. Both sections started fires as well as the empanage. I had been keeping the floating parachute of the first man out in the corner of my aye and finally it landed on an elbow bend of the river bow below. I think this man should have been able to escape for it was an open section of the [Pasig] river. It is my opinion that he was the oniy survivor." Search As the crash was observed, no search mission was flown for the bomber or crew. Recovery of Remains After the Americans liberated Manila, the remains of nine of the crew were recovered and individually identified. Four of the crew including Lucey, Goodlow, Benner and Szmans were buried at Manila American Cemetery. Five of the crew: Max, Hooker, Phibbs, Grim, Dilsburg were shipped to the United States for permenent burial. Two of the crew, Hadjopoulos and Sargent were not found and remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on the day of the mission. Lucey earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot C, row 15 site 68. Goodlow earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot D, row 8 site 40. Max has an unknown burial, likely in his hometown in the United States. Hooker is buried at Wheeler Cemetery in Wheeler, TX at section E-11, lot 3 W 1/2, space 2. Phibbs has a grave and memorial marker buried at Pine Hill Cemetery in Burlington, NC at section O lot 64 grave 5. Hadjopoulos earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA) and is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Benner earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot B, row 14, site 106. Grim is buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Green Forest, AR. Dilsburg is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk, VA in section south, lot 316, space 2. Szmans earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot J, row 5, site 9. Sargent earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA) and is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John D. Lucey NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William O. Goodlow NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harvey A. Max NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Tris S. Hooker NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Forest R. Phibbs NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George Hadjopoulos NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John C. Grim NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William C. Dilsburg Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Rudolph Szmans NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harold R. Sargent USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J 44-40553 "40553 (307th BG) lost Jan 8, 1945, SW Pacific. MACR 11903" Missing Air Crew Report 11903 (MACR 11903) created January 9, 1945 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John D. Lucey FindAGrave - 2Lt John D Lucey American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William O. Goodlow FindAGrave - 2LT William Otis Goodlow (photo, news) FindAGrave - 1LT Harvey A Max (photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Tris Speaker Hooker (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Forest Rainey Phibbs (grave photos) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George Hadjopoulos FindAGrave - Sgt George Hadjopoulos American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Theodore R. Benner FindAGrave - Theodore R. Benner (photos, grave photos) FindAGrave - John Calvin Grim (grave photos) FindAGrave - SGT William Carroll Dilsburg Jr. (grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Rudolph Szmans FindAGrave - CPL Rudolph Szmans (grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold R. Sargent FindAGrave - Harold R. Sargent (tablets of the missing photo) Thanks to Robert Livingstone 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 February 2, 2026 |
 B-24  Photo Archive  Map Jan 8, 1945  MIA 2 Missing |
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