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| USAAF 5th AF 71st TRG Headquarters Former Assignments 3rd BG 13th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. George W. Dixon, O-25595 71st TRG, HQ (MIA / KIA) Aberdeen, SD Co-Pilot 2nd Walter M. Tibbits, Jr., O-726603 6th PRG, HQ (MIA / KIA) Macedonia, OH Observer Captain Ralph E. F. Meyerhein, O-406432 71st TRG, HQ (MIA / KIA) Cleveland, OH Engineer SSgt Oran Koontz, 19067522 71st TRG, 17th TRS (MIA / KIA) UT Radio SSgt Walter J. Vaughn, Jr., 13045933 71st TRG, HQ (MIA / KIA) Philadelphia, PA Passenger Captain Donald R. Seitz, O-342239 Dental Corps (MIA / KIA) Bozeman, MT Passenger Cpl Kermit B. Cox, 36055867 71st TRG, HQ (MIA / KIA) Jasper County, IL MIA February 18, 1944 MACR 2549 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Inglewood. Constructors Number 82-5099. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25C Mitchell serial number 41-12464. Purchased by the Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force (NEIAF) as B-25C Mitchell serial number N5-134. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to No. 18 Squadron at Canberra Airfield. In June 1942, renumbered as B-25C Mitchell N5-123. Afterwards, returned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 13th Bombardment Squadron (13th BS). Tail letter "S". Nicknamed "The Nip Clipper" and later renamed "Hellzapopin II". Assigned to pilot Ellis with crew chiefs Sigismund and Gmitro. Later, converted to a B-25C-1 strafer variant. Later, transferred to the 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (71st TRG), Headquarters Squadron (HQ). When lost, engines were R-2600-13 serial numbers 41-30717 and 41-30322. No weapons were aboard. Mission History On February 18, 1944 took off from North Borio Airfield (Dobodura No. 15) piloted by 1st Lt. George W. Dixon on an administrative flight bound for Kiriwina Airfield. Last seen on take off by Captain Frederick J. Northway. The weather was low ceiling with rain along the flight route. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search Afterwards, a search was conducted by 5th Air Force Sea and Ground Rescue under the supervision of Lt. Garner. Two units of L-5s searched along the probable route, but no traces of the missing aircraft was found. 5th Fighter Command was also notified, but failed to report anything. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. As the flight was non-combat, none of the crew or passengers earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Meyerhein also has a memorial marker at Santa Fe National Cemetery in section X, site 32. Seitz also has a memorial marker at Sunset Hills Cemetery in Bozeman, MT. Cox also has a memorial marker at Hazel Dell South Cemetery in Hazel Dell, IL. References Another source states B-25C 41-12464 was assigned to the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEIAF) with serial number N5-151. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25C Mitchell serial number 41-12464 "12464 (MSN 82-5099) to Netherlands East Indies AF Feb 7, 1942 as N5-134. Ferried to Australia and assigned to 18 Squadron, NEIAF, Canberra, Australia. Renumberd N5-123 Jun 1942. Returned to USAAF as 41-12464. (71st RG) lost Feb 18, 1944. MACR 2549." Missing Air Crew Report 2549 (MACR 2549) created February 23, 1944 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25C Mitchell 41-12464 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George W. Dixon American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Walter M. Tibbits, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ralph E. F. Meyerhein American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Oran Koontz American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Walter J. Vaughn, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald R. Seitz American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kermit B. Cox FindAGrave - 1LT George Warner Dixon (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1LT George Warner “Butch” Dixon (photos, National World War II Memorial) FindAGrave - 2Lt Walter M Tibbits Jr. (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Capt Ralph Frank Meyerhein (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Ralph Frank Meyerhein (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Oran Koontz (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Walter J Vaughn Jr. (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Capt Donald Ridgely Seitz (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Donald Ridgely Seitz (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Corp Kermit B Cox (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Kermit B Cox (memorial marker photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 22, 2025 |
 B-25  MIA 7 Missing |
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