|  |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 10th AF 7th BG 9th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Lloyd K. Jensen, O-726248 (POW, survived) West Jordan, UT Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Owen J. Baggett, O-791369 (POW, survived) Graham, TX Navigator 1st Lt. Max A. Davis, O-660462 (MIA / KIA March 31, 1943) Bridgeport, NB Bombardier 2nd Lt. Bert J. Smith, O-727673 (MIA / KIA March 31, 1943) Millfield, OH Engineer TSgt Kenneth E. Schleicher, 12040427 (MIA / KIA March 31, 1943) Bloomfield, NJ Radio SSgt Stephen F. Burke, 11021671 (POW / MIA / KIA March 31, 1943) Worcester, MA Gunner SSgt Samuel A. Crostic, Jr., 20367261 (POW, survived) VA Gunner SSgt Tadix E. Higginbotham, 18044472 (POW, survived) IL Gunner SSgt Joseph R. R. Mercier, 6146112 [sic] (MIA / KIA March 31, 1943) Lowell, MA Crashed March 31, 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). Likely, this bomber was B-24D "The Captain and the Kids" 41-24213. Ferried overseas to India. Wartime History Assigned to the 10th Air Force (10th AF), 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG), 9th Bombardment Squadron (9th BS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On March 31, 1943 took off from Gaya Airfield in India piloted by 1st Lt. Lloyd K. Jensen as one of six B-24s that on a bombing mission against the Pyinmana Railroad Yards in Mandalay in central Burma. At about 12:35pm while on the bomb run, the formation was intercepted by seven or more Ki-43 Oscars from 64th Hiko Sentai led by Captain Kuroe that made simultaneous and coordinated attacks from all positions, the majority from 2 o'clock and 10 o'clock low to take advantage of blind spots and made feints to distract gunners. The attack lasted 35 minutes and the B-24s jettisoned their bombs without bombing thet target. The B-24 gunners claimed 2 shot down, 2 probables and 3 damaged. During the engagement, this bomber was severely damaged by gunfire with at least five of the crew bailing out before it crashed west of Pyinmana at roughly Lat 19° 40' N Long 95° 30' E. As they descended in their parachutes, they were machine gunned by the Oscars. When this B-24 failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Three other B-24s were damaged by gunfire, one considerably that returning landed at Chittagong Airfield. Wreckage After the crash, Japanese personnel from Magwe Airfield picked up force landed Ki-43 Oscar pilot Miyabe the drove to Magwe to purchase food and encounter a group of excited Burmese surrounding an American airman 2nd Lt. Owen J. Baggett who had bailed out and surrendered to them. With their prisoner, the Japanese drove to the nearby crash site of the B-24 and saw burned bodies inside the wreckage. Fates of the Crew Four of the crew: Davis, Smith, Schleicher, Burke and Mercier were killed aboard the bomber or died in the crash. At least five of the crew bailed out including Baggett, Burke, Costic, Higginbotham and Burke. Some were strafed in their parachutes as they descended. As co-pilot Baggett descended in his parachute he claimed he was strafed in his parachute and claimed he shoot down an enemy fighter using his Colt M1911 .45 caliber pistol and fired four shots that "hit the pilot in the head". In fact, none of the attacking Ki-43 Oscars were lost or damaged. On the ground, four of the crew: Jensen, Baggett, Costic and Higginbotham were found by Burmese civilians and turned over to the Japanese Army and became Prisoners Of War (POWs). Separately, Burke bailed out and was also captured and became Prisoner Of War (POW). The five POWs were transported to Rangoon (Yangoon). Burke, Costic and Higginbotham were detained at Burma #5 (Moulmein & Rangoon Jail) Burma 16-97. Burke died March 31, 1943 possibly of wounds sustained on the mission or while bailing out. Costic was liberated May 1, 1945. Higginbotham was liberated May 2, 1945. Jensen and Baggett were flown in a Japanese bomber to Singapore. Both were detained at Malaya POW Camp Malay 6-104. Baggett was was liberated September 21, 1945. Jensen was liberated October 2, 1945. Memorials Davis, Smith, Schleicher, Mercier and Burke were officially declared dead the day of the mission and remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). All five are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Davis was officially declared dead on March 31, 1943. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Smith was officially declared dead on March 31, 1943. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Schleicher was officially declared dead on March 31, 1943. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Mercier was officially declared dead on March 31, 1943. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Burke was a Prisoner Of War (POW) and was officially declared dead on March 31, 1943. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Higginbotham died July 15, 1988 at age 68. He is buried at Union Cemetery in Bakersfield, CA at block B-69, plot 12. Jensen died June 25, 1994 at age 73. He has an unknown burial in the United States. Baggett died in July 27, 2006 at age 85. He is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at section 42 site 436. Crostic death date and burial are unknown. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Lloyd K. Jensen NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Owen J. Baggett NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Max A. Davis NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Bert J. Smith NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Kenneth E. Schleicher NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Stephan F. Burke NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Samuel A. Crostic, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Tadix E. Higginbotham This B-24 serial number is unknown, possibly B-24D "The Captain and the Kids" 41-24213. 10th Air Force Weekly Intelligence Summary April 3, 1943 page 3 "18. 9 B-24's of a mission of 22 detailed to bomb the railroad bridge and marshaling yards at Pyinmana on March 31st were intercepted ab [sic at] about 1235 hours while on the bombing run at 8000 feet." Missing Air Crew Report 16275 (MACR 16275) created retroactively circa April 1946 NARA World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files - Lloyd K. Jensen FindAGrave - Lloyd Kenneth Jensen (photo) NARA World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files - Owen J. Baggett FindAGrave - COL Owen John Baggett (photo, grave photo) NARA World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files - Stephen F. Burke [sic Stephan] American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Stephen F. Burke FindAGrave - SSgt Stephen Francis Burke (tablets of the missing) NARA World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files - Samuel A. Crostic, Jr. NARA World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files - Tadix E. Higginbotham FindAGrave - Tadix Edward "Red" Higginbotham (grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph R. R. Mercier [profile not listed] FindAGrave - SSgt Joseph R R Mercier (tablets of the missing) The Boston Globe "Mercier, Joseph R., Staff Sergt." May 1, 1943 pasge 3 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Max A. Davis FindAGrave - 2LT Max Arthur Davis (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Bert J. Smith FindAGrave - 2Lt Bert J Smith (tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kenneth E. Schleicher FindAGrave - SSgt Kenneth E Schleicher (tablets of the missing) Pictorial History of the 7th Bombardment Group/Wing (1998) pages 286 (Baggett photo), 287 (Costic photo), 313 (index) Air War For Burma (2014) page 76-77 "...The prisoner referred to was 2/Lt Owen Baggett, who had been co-pilot of the B-24, an aircraft of the 9th Bomb Squadron. Baggett later featured in an article in Air Force Magazine, in which he stated that the Japanese fighters had attacked the crew after they baled out, apparently killing some and grazing Baggett's arm. The pilot responsible circled him and opened the cockpit canopy of his aircraft as Baggett feigned death. As e Ki-43 approached close to him, nose-up and on the verge of a stall, he raised his .45in automatic pistol and fired four shots at the cockpit, whereupon it stalled and spun in. As the survivors reached the ground the other fighters continued to strafe, but Baggett hid behind a tree." Thanks to Bob Livingstone for possible serial number Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated October 24, 2025
|
 B-24  MIA 4 Prisoner 5 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
