Aircraft History
Built by Ford at Willow Run, Michigan. Delivered to the U.S. Army. Ferried overseas to India.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 9th Bombardment Squadron. No known nose art or nickname. Squadron Number 24. Weapon and engine serial numbers noted in Missing Air Crew Report (MACR).

Mission History
On March 29, 1945 took off from Pandaveswar Airfield in India piloted by 1st Lt. Charles L. Wiley on a bombing mission against Rangoon. Over the target, anti-aircraft fire was moderate and apparently hit this bomber. Shortly after dropping their bombs, the plane began losing altitude with the no. 2 engine out. The haze was thick and heavy and this plane was last seen over the target. When it failed to return, the entire crew was declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Search
A B-24 was dispatched to search for this bomber, but failed to find anything. Air Sea Rescue was contacted and bombers on the next day's mission were also informed to search.

Fates of the Crew
In fact, this B-24 crashed into the jungle and the entire crew survived. All were captured by Burmese people and turned over to the Japanese and transported to Rangoon. No trace of them were ever found.

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead on March 30, 1946. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

Charles Wiley also has a memorial marker at Andersonville National Cemetery section MB, row 8.
Marley Wiley also has a memorial marker at Van Pelt Cemetery in Waldron, IN.
Goodwin also has a memorial marker at Cedar Lake Cemetery in Waterloo, IN.
Ott also has a memorial marker at Garland Brook Cemetery in Columbus IN.

Relatives
Susan Gifford (niece of Charles L. Wiley)
"Government records which I obtained about 10 years ago indicate that the plane crashed in the jungle and all of the crew survived. They were captured by Burmese nationals and turned over to the Japanese. They were transported to Rangoon. Rangoon was liberated one month later on April 29, 1945. No trace of any of the crew was ever found."

References
Missing Air Crew Report 13467 (MACR 13467)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles L. Wiley
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank T. Cross
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Murle F. Wiley
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Claude F. Marshall
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James D. Male
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Chester D. Goodwin
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - David V. Law
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Walter Ott Jr.
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William D. Harrell
FindAGrave - 1Lt Charles L Wiley (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Charles L Wiley (memorial photo)
FindAGrave - 1Lt Frank T Cross (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - 2Lt Murle Francis Wiley (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Murle Francis Wiley (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - Claude F. Marshall (photo, tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - 2Lt James D Male (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - SSgt Chester Devon Goodwin (photo, tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Chester D Goodwin (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt David V Law (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - SSgt Walter W Ott, Jr (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt William D Harrell (tablets of the missing)

Last Updated
February 18, 2020