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| USAAF 13th AF 5th BG 23rd BS  5th BG 1944 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Thomas M. Coberly, O-770950 (MIA / KIA, BR) Los Angeles, CA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Jerome "Jerry" Rosenthal, O-771130 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA Navigator 2nd Lt. Frederick H. Brennan Jr., O-2064512 (MIA / KIA) Santa Ana, CA Bombardier 2nd Lt. Philip R. Corrin, O-776633 (survived) Los Angeles, CA Engineer Sgt James F. Knoch, 39410685 (survived) Sacramento, CA Asst. Engineer Cpl Edward J. Haviland, 13141736 (survived) Baltimore, MD Radio Operator Cpl Daniel G. Illerich, 19188369 (survived) Sacramento, CA Asst. Radio Sgt Clarence T. Capin, 15374802 (survived) Fort Wayne, IN Gunner Cpl John R. Nelson, 19220892 (survived) Boise, ID Gunner SSgt Francis E. Harrington, 31092660 (survived) New Bedford, MA Photo/Gunner Sgt Elmer W. Phillips, 38259174 HQ Squadron (MIA / KIA) Baton Rouge, LA MIA November 16, 1944 at 11:35am MACR 10335 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 4860. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-185-CO Liberator serial number 44-40924. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field to the South West Pacific Area (SPWA). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG) "Bomber Barons", 23rd Bombardment Squadron (23rd BS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines R-1830-65A serial numbers BP-443694, BP-443773, BP-443777 and BP-443576. Armed with ten .50 caliber machine guns, makers and serial numbers not listed in Missing Air Crew Report 10335 (MACR 10335). Mission History On November 16, 1944 took off from Pitu Airfield (APO 719) on Morotai Island piloted by 2nd Lt. Thomas M. Coberly armed with five 1,000 pound bombs as one of six B-24s from the 23rd Bombardment Squadron (23rd BS) on a bombing mission against Japanese warships in Brunei Bay in northwest Borneo. The formation also included B-24s from the 31st BS, 72nd BS and 394th BS plus six B-24s from the 307th Bombardment Group escorted by P-38 Lightnings. The weather was .3 low cumulus inbound with unlimited visibility over the target with no winds. Over the target at 11:00am at an altitude of 10,500' for roughly 12-14 minutes, the bombers were subjected to heavy anti-aircraft fire from gunners on the warships and land batteries with 2,000-5,000 bursts of fire observed by the formation of different colors: black, white, yellow, green, pink, red and blue. Hit by anti-aircraft fire, navigator Brennan was killed and the pilot Coberly badly injured and later died. Co-pilot Rosenthal was also was mortally wounded but continued to fly onward but after about 20 minutes, told the crew to bail out. Crew members aboard another B-24 in the formation observed parachutes from this bomber before it crashed at roughly Lat 3° 50' N Long 116° 10'E over North Borneo in northern Borneo. When this B-24 failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was B-24J 44-40962 pilot Norris (6 MIA, 4 rescued) and B-24J 44-41387 pilot Saalfield (MIA). Fates of the Crew In fact, seven of the crew landed safely and were hidden for seven months by local people before being rescued seven months later. Knoch and Capin on June 6, 1945. Nelson on June 27, 1945. Corrin, Haviland, Illerich and Harrington on July 1, 1945. Memorials The four crew Missing In Action (MIA) were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Coberly earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot N row 14 grave 193. Rosenthal remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Brennan remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Phillips remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Relatives Steve Moses (nephew of 2nd Lt. Jerome "Jerry" Rosenthal) "Over the years, my Mom had tried to contact Government officials requesting retrieval of my my Uncles remains but to no avail. I have a bunch of the original paperwork In emails from the military notifying my grandparents that my Uncle, Jerome "Jerry" Rosenthal, was indeed declared dead and body was irretrievable due to the complicated terrain. Believe it or not, the current tribal leader video'd a journey by boat in the river showing where the B-24 is still embedded at the top of the river. This video was sent to the Author (I believe or to her representative and shared with my Mom on a VHS if I remember correctly)." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James F. Knoch NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward J. Haviland NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Daniel G. Illerich NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John R. Nelson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Francis E. Harrington Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) - Frederick H. Brennan Jr. Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) - Jerome Rosenthal USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-185-CO Liberator 44-40924 "40924 (5th BG) lost Nov 16, 1944, SW Pacific. MACR 10335" Missing Air Crew Report 10335 (MACR 10335) created June 29, 1945 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas M. Coberly American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jerome Rosenthal American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frederick H. Brennan Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Elmer W. Phillips FindAGrave - 2Lt Thomas M Coberly (Manila American Cemetery grave) FindAGrave - 2Lt Jerome "Jerry" Rosenthal (photos, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2Lt Frederick H Brennan, Jr (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Elmer W Phillips, Jr (tablets of the missing photo) The Airmen and the Headhunters: A True Story of Lost Soldiers, Heroic Tribesmen and the Unlikeliest Rescue of World War II (2009) by Judith M. Heimann PBS / NOVA "Secrets of Dead" The Airmen and the Headhunters originally aired November 10, 2009 Thanks to Sharon Farley 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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 B-24  Photo Archive  November 16, 1944  MIA 3 Missing |
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