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| USAAF 7th AF 11th BG 26th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Herman L. E. Bierwirth, O-758291 (MIA / KIA) TX Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Ralph B. Albaugh, O-765199 (MIA / KIA) TX Navigator 2nd Lt. Fiume C. Cascioli, O-707854 (MIA / KIA) NY Bombardier 2nd Lt. Harris G. Cheney, O-704163 (MIA / KIA) TX Engineer TSgt Napoleon A. McMullen, 14044662 (MIA / KIA) FL Radio TSgt Charles M. Finnigan, 18159891 (MIA / KIA) OK Asst Radio TSgt Donald E. Bloedel, 36260862 (MIA / KIA) WI Asst Engineer SSgt Charles L. Conrad, 16019181 (MIA / KIA) IL Armorer-Gunner SSgt Johnnie O. Markham, 37620373 (MIA / KIA) MO Armorer-Gunner SSgt Richard E. Carton, 39208530 (MIA / KIA) WA Radar SSgt John B. Van Volkenburg, 38421100 (MIA / KIA) TX Crashed February 8, 1945 MACR 12050 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego during 1941. Constructors Number 5406. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24L-5-CO Liberator serial number 44-41470. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then to the Central Pacific. Wartime History Assigned to the 7th Air Force (7th AF), 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 26th Bombardment Squadron (26th BS). No nickname or nose art. When lost, engine and weapon serial numbers not noted in Missing Air Crew Report 12050 (MACR 12050). Mission History On February 8, 1945 took off from Guam piloted by 1st Lt. Herman L. E. Bierwirth on a bombing mission against radar and radio installations and anti-aircraft defenses on Iwo Jima. This bomber was part of "C" flight flying a "box stagger" formation and bombed from 16,000' The formation began circling to the east to return to base and descended to 15,000'. At approximately 7:20am a Japanese fighter approached from the sun and reached the formation undetected before rolling, belly over and impacted into the this B-24 behind the wing section into the top turret. The impact resulted in an explosion and broke off the right wing. Other bombers in the formation noted a parachute open but it collapsed immediately and the tail section of the bomber fell in one piece. The wreckage landed into the sea roughly ten miles due east of Iwo Jima. Another bomber reported two parachutes open but both caught fire. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at the courts of the missing at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24L-5-CO Liberator 44-41470 Missing Air Crew Report 12050 (MACR 12050) 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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