Aircraft History
Built by North American in Inglewood, California, the fifteenth B-25C Mitchell produced. Delivered to the U. S. Army. Ferried overseas via Hawaii to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 3rd Bombardment Group, 90th Bombardment Squadron. No known nose art or nickname.

Mission History
On May 25, 1942 took off from Cooktown Airfield on a morning flight bound for 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby , used as a staging base for a bombing mission. One of eight B-25s that took off from 7-Mile Drome on a bombing mission against Lae Airfield.

Over the target, attacked by approximately fifteen Tainan Kōkūtai A6M2 Zeros in vicinity of the airfield for twenty minutes. This B-25 was last seen being engaged by two A6M Zeros, losing altitude with both engines in flames.

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead on November 18, 1945. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

Relatives
Beth Bender (niece of Ferguson)

References
Previously, co-Pilot Ferguson assigned to the 27th Bombardment Group, 91st Bombardment Squadron. He was a A-24 Dive Bomber pilot in flying combat missions from Bali and Java.
3rd Bombardment Group History incorrectly lists date of loss as being May 24, 1942
90th Bomb Squadron History, page 39
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25C Mitchell 41-12448
Thanks to Edward Rogers and Daniel Leahy for additional information

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Last Updated
February 8, 2018