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| USAAF 5th AF 3rd BG 90th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Bennett G. Wilson, O-384791 (MIA / KIA) MO Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Luther P. Smith, Jr., O-427778 (MIA / KIA) MS Bombardier T/Sgt Luther B. Word, Jr., 6973540 (MIA / KIA) Dublin, GA Engineer Cpl Leaburn D. Myers, 14029318 (MIA / KIA) Memphis, TN Radio Sgt. Lloyd M. Bailey, RAAF 504710 (MIA / KIA) Southbrook, QLD Turret Gunner Cpl. Henry R. Sheppard, 6973526 (MIA / KIA) GA Crashed May 25, 1942 MACR 16001 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Inglewood as the seventeenth B-25C Mitchell manufactured. Constructors Number 82-5085. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25C Mitchell serial number 41-12450. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 90th Bombardment Squadron (90th BS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On May 25, 1942 took off from 7-MIle Drome near Port Moresby pilot 1st Lt. Bennett G. Wilson on a bombing mission against Lae Airfield and installations at Lae. Following the bombing run, the formation was intercepted by A6M2 Zeros of the Tainan Kokutai near Lae. One of five 3rd BG B-25 shot down on this strike. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). The American crew members were officially declared dead on December 4, 1945 and are memorialized at Manila American Cemeteryon the tablets of the missing. Wilson earned the Silver Star with oak leaf cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Smith earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. Word earned Silver Star, Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters on April 29, 1942 while a crew member on a reconnaissance mission over Buna and Purple Heart, posthumously. Word earned awarded the Silver Star for actions on April 29, 1942 while a crew member on a reconnaissance mission over Buna. He was the only son of Mr. & Mrs. Luther Word of Dublin, Georgia. Myers earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, postumously. Bailey was declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized at Lae War Cemetery on Lae Memorial, panel 7. Sheppard earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, postumously. Relatives Mr. & Mrs. Luther Word of Dublin, Georgia (parents of Wood) Are you related to the sister of T/Sgt Word? Contact us Are you a relative of Lt. Smith Are you a relative of Cpl Myers Are you a relative of Sgt Bailey? Contact us References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Luther P. Smith, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Leaburn D. Myers NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25C Mitchell 41-12450 "12450 (MSN 82-5085) to Netherlands Indies AF with serial in N5-164/184 range Apr 1, 1942 but ferried to Australia and retained by USAAF (3rd BG, 90th BS) shot down by fighters during attack on Lae May 25, 1942" RAAF Status Card: "Last seen losing altitude in the vicinity of Lae Airdrome, and it is believed that both engines had been put out of action by Japanese gun fire. Believed to have crashed in the vicinity of the airdrome." 90th Bomb Group History PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25C Mitchell 41-12450 Missing Air Crew Report 16001 (MACR 16001) created retroactively circa 1945-1946 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Bennett G. Wilson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Luther P. Smith, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Luther B. Word, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leaburn D. Myers CWGC - Lloyd M. Bailey American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Henry R. Sheppard FindAGrave - 1Lt Bennett Clay Wilson (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1Lt Luther P Smith (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Corp Leaburn D Myers (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sergeant Lloyd Maxwell Bailey (Lae Memorial) FindAGrave - Corp Henry R. Sheppard (tablets of the missing photo) Thanks to Edward Rogers 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
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