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Pilot Captain James W. Baldwin, O-427114 (MIA / KIA) OK Co-Pilot Homer L. Baker, O-727150 (MIA / KIA) IL Navigator 2nd Lt William A. Ragland Jr. (MIA / KIA) TX Bombardier 2nd Lt Melvin J. Trimpe (MIA / KIA) Cincinnati, OH Engineer TSgt Phillip Kereb, 13027208 (MIA / KIA) Bath, PA Radio TSgt Jack W. Whitham, 18069847 (MIA / KIA) Hayden, CO Gunner SSgt Albert F. Caivano, 11044978 (MIA / KIA) Meriden, CT Gunner SSgt James H. Milliner, 6146707 (MIA / KIA) Orono, ME Gunner Sgt John B. Moore, 18057239 (MIA / KIA) Portland, TX MIA March 13, 1943 MACR 16275 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated in San Diego. Constructors Number unknown. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24D Liberator serial number 41-????? (five digits unknown). Ferried overseas to India. Wartime History Assigned to the 10th Air Force (10th AF), 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG), 9th Bombardment Squadron (9th BS). Squadron Number 22. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines R-1830 serial numbers unknown. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On March 13, 1943 at 6:30am took off Pandaveswar Airfield in northeast India piloted by Captain James W. Baldwin armed with five 1,000 pound bombs on a sea search mission against Japanese shipping in Gulf of Martaban but instead bombed the Pazundaung bridge over the Irrawaddy River near Rangoon in Burma (Myanmar). Just before the start of the bomb run, intercepted by seven Ki-45 Nicks from 21st Hiko Sentai, 2nd chutai that took off from Mingaladon Airfield to intercept and made 15 to 20 coordinated attacks against the formation from 1 o'clock and 2 o'clock high with feints from the rear and side to confuse the gunners. Two B-24 were shot down and a third sustained moderate damage. The gunners aboard the B-24s claimed one shot down, one probable and several damaged. Damaged, this B-24 was seen to crash in the Gulf of Martaban (Gulf of Mottama). When this B-24 failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost is B-24D Liberator pilot 1st Lt. Willard K. Short (MIA). At 6:00pm the two remaining B-24s returned landing at auxiliary airfield, one bomber returned with moderate damage including three wounded gunners, one died of wounds. Memorials The entire crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Baldwin earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Baker earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Ragland earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Morton Cemetery in Richmond, TX. Trimpe earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Kereb earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Whitham earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Caivano earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at ANC at section MH site 490. Milliner earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Moore earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James W. Baldwin NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Homer L. Baker NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William A. Ragland Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Melvin J. Trimpe NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Phillip Kereb NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Jack W. Whitham NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Albert F. Caivano NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John B. Moore 10th AF Weekly Intelligence Summary for Week ending March 20, 1943. Numbered D-212 page 2 via Richard Dunn "7. Rangoon Area. March 13th [1943], a formation was attacked from 5 to 7 I-45 [Type 2 Two-Seat Fighter / Ki-45 Toryu (Nick)] fighters just before the start of the bomb run. 15 to 20 well coordinated attacks were made. The majority of the attacks were made from ward upper positions, 1 and 2 o'clock, passing below formation, or between the lead airplane and no. 4 airplane. Effective use was made of feints from rear and from the sides, causing top turrets to be turned in wrong direction for actual attacks on several occasions. Our losses were 2 B-24D's crashed in the sea, some of the crews believed to have survived the crashes; 1 gunner killed and 2 wounded on third B-24 which received moderate damage. Enemy losses: 1 destroyed, 1 probably destroyed, and several damaged." Missing Air Crew Report 16245 (MACR 16245) created retroactively circa April 1946 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James W. Baldwin FindAGrave - Capt James W Baldwin (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Homer L. Baker FindAGrave - 2Lt Homer LeRoy Baker (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William A. Ragland, Jr. FindAGrave - 2Lt William Andrew Ragland Jr. (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut William Andrew Ragland Jr. (photo, memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Melvin J. Trimpe FindAGrave - 2Lt Melvin Joseph Trimpe (tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Phillip Kereb FindAGrave - TSgt Phillip Kereb (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jack W. Whitham FindAGrave - TSgt Jack W Whitham (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Albert F. Caivano FindAGrave - Sgt Albert F Caivano (tablets of the missing photo) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Albert F. Caivano (grave photos) FindAGrave - Albert F. Caivano (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James H. Milliner FindAGrave - SSgt James H Milliner (photo, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John B. Moore FindAGrave - Sgt John Bernard Moore (tablets of the missing photo) Thanks to Richard Dunn 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 October 22, 2025
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