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Pilot 1st Lt. Harold "Hal" V. Maull (rescued) Wilmington, Delaware Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. David M. Conley (rescued) Navigator 2nd Lt. Alfred A. Heyman (rescued) Bombardier SSgt O. C. Cook (rescued) Crew Chief Sgt Walter A. Doiron (rescued) Gunner Sgt Francis H. Pryor (rescued) Gunner Sgt Francis M. Fowler (rescued) Ditched May 10, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Inglewood. Constructors Number 82-5146. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25C Mitchell serial number 41-12511. Ferried overseas via HIckam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History On March 13, 1942 assigned to the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEIAF) as B-25C Mitchell serial number N5-125. Instead, retained by the U.S. Army Air Force. Assigned to 5th Air Force, 3rd Bombardment Group, 13th Bombardment Squadron to pilot Harold V. "Hal" Maull. Nicknamed "El Diablo" (The Devil in Spansih). Afterwards, this same nickname was used for B-25C "El Diablo II" 41-12488 and B-25C "El Diablo" 41-12511. Royce Mission On April 11, 1942 took off from Batchelor Field near Darwin piloted by Maull with co-pilot West on the Royce Mission as one of nine B-25s with three B-17s on a flight 1,500 miles northward to Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao in the Philippines. On April 12, 1942 and April 13, 1942 one of nine B-25s plus three B-17s that bombed Cebu and Davao. Afterwards, flown back to Batchelor Field. Mission History On May 10, 1942 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Harold "Hal" V. Maull on a strike against Deboyne Lagoon and Japanese seaplanes moored north of Nivani Island. After claiming a Japanese seaplane shot down, the life raft in this aircraft broke loose and caught the tail section. Damaged, this B-25 crash landed on a coral reef off Samurai. The entire crew were unhurt in the landing. Fate of the Crew After the landing, pilot Maull recovered the aircraft clock and kept it as a memento. Before departing, the crew burned their B-25. Aided by friendly natives they were taken to Samurai to await rescue. During late May 1942, they boarded MV Matoma and were transported back to Port Moresby and returned to duty. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25C Mitchell 41-12511 "12511 (MSN 82-5146) to Netherlands East Indies AF as N5-153 Feb 28, 1942. Ferried to Australia but impressed by USAAF Mar 27, 1942 and assigned to 3rd BG." PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25 Mitchell piloted by Maull 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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