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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 7th AF 11th BG 98th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. John K. Lowe, O-764368 (MIA / KIA) Ellensburg, WA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Francis Richard Dibblee, O-929144 (MIA / KIA) Santa Barbara, CA Navigator 2nd Lt. Harold Lionel Vigue, O-20656 (survived) Waterville, ME Bombardier 2nd Lt. Alexander Walter Hunt, O-783072 (MIA / KIA) San Diego, CA Engineer Cpl Horace W. Pliler, Jr., 37527385 (MIA / KIA) Pratt County, KS Radio Cpl Zane G. Phillips, 34809000 (MIA / KIA) Spring City, TN Gunner Cpl Robert F. Finnerty, 31167546 (MIA / KIA) Fairfield County, CT Gunner Cpl Roy Rosario Scimeca, 16187532 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Gunner Cpl Raymond Edward De Roo, 36876616 (WIA, survived) Gunner Cpl Darwin O. Nichols, 16188450 (MIA / KIA) McLean County, IL Photographer Sgt Joseph A. Slevin, 16031304 7th AF Camera Unit (MIA / KIA) East Moline, IL Ditched May 8, 1945 MACR 14398 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 4553. At the factory completed with an aluminum finish. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-170-CO Liberator serial number 44-40617. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific. Wartime History Assigned to the 7th Air Force (7th AF), 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 98th Bombardment Squadron (98th BS). Nicknamed "Temptation" in bubble block letters with the nose art of a nude woman reclining on a crescent moon, later a dark background was added. On the left side of the nose was a scoreboard with bomb markings indicating missions flown and the silhouette of a ship claimed as sunk. When lost engines R-1830-65 serial numbers BP-455044, BP-426826, BP-456488 and BP-437225. Weapon serial numbers noted in MACR 14398. Armed with ten .50 caliber machine serial numbers listed in Missing Air Crew Report 14398 (MACR 14398). Mission History On May 8, 1945 took off from Harmon Field (Depot Field) on Guam piloted by 1st Lt. John K. Lowe on a bombing mission against Marcus Island. Over the target, damaged by anti-aircraft fire before the bomb run and returning ditched roughly 70 miles northeast of Saipan. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Search Air Sea Rescue was contacted and a PBY Catalina searched for this bomber unsuccessfully. Six B-24s searched for this bomber on May 9, 1945 flying a box formation during the search. On May 10, 1945 another search was made by a single B-24. Fates of the Crew Two of the crew survived and were rescued. De Roo returned to duty on May 27, 1945. Vigue was injured and returned to duty on July 14, 1945. Memorials The entire crew with the exception of survivors De Roo and Vigue were officially declared dead the day of the mission. The missing crew members are memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing. Lowe and Dibblee on court 7. Lowe earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Dibblee earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Hunt earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Pliler earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Phillips earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Spring City Cemetery in Spring City, TN. Finnerty earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Scimeca earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Nichols earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Slevin earned the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. De Roo has an unknown burial, likely in his hometown in the United States. Vigue earned the Soldier's Medal for Heroism. He passed away October 17, 2010 at age 88. He is buried at Saint Francis Catholic Cemetery in Waterville, ME at lot 399 grave 4. Relatives Antonia De La Guerra (nephew of Dibblee) References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John K. Lowe NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harold L. Vigue NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Horace W. Pliler, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Zane G. Phillips NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert F. Finnerty NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Roy R. Scimeca NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Darwin O. Nichols NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Joseph A. Slevin USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-170-CO Liberator 44-40617 "40617 (11th BG) lost May 8, 1945, central Pacific. MACR 14398" Missing Air Crew Report 14398 (MACR 14398) created May 10, 1945 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John K. Lowe American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Francis R. Dibblee American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alexander W. Hunt American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Horace W. Pliler, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Zane G. Phillips American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert F. Finnerty American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Roy R. Scimeca American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Darwin O. Nichols American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph A. Slevin FindAGrave - 1Lt John K Lowe (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Francis Richard Dibblee (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Alexander Walter Hunt (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Horace William Pliler Jr. (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Zane Grey Phillips (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Zane Grey Phillips (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Cpl. Robert Frederick Finnerty (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - CPL Roy Rosario Scimeca (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Cpl. Darwin Orlando Nichols (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - CPL Darwin Orlando Nichols (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt. Joseph Allen Slevin (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Harold Lionel Vigue (grave) 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 9 Missing  Aprox 16 18' N 146 E |
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