|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 71st BS  USAAF 1942 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Edward Q. May, Jr., O-789186 (MIA / KIA) Trenton, FL Crew 2nd Lt. Jack D. Mills, O-660882 (MIA / KIA) Lufkin, TX Crew 2nd Lt. Harry E. Washer, O-725646 (MIA / KIA) Multnomah County, OR Passenger Pvt Dale M. Collins, 33104719 (MIA / KIA) Ohiopyle, PA MIA October 23, 1942 at 9:30am MACR 16486 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Inglewood. Constructors Number 82-5524. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25C Mitchell serial number 41-12889. Ferried overseas to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) "Sun Setters", 71st Bombardment Squadron (71st BS) "The Wolf Pack". Nicknamed "Yankee Vengeance". Mission History On October 23, 1942 took off from 14 Mile Drome (Laloki) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Edward Q. May, Jr. on a flight bound for Garbutt Field at Townsville. Twenty five miles from Townsville, this B-25 was detected on radar but was never seen again. When this aircraft failed to arrive it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage During February 1944, the wreckage was found. One source suggests that this wreck may have been located north of Cairns. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. As the flight was deemed non-combat none of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. May also has a memorial marker at Old Philadelphia Church Cemetery in Quincy, FL. Mills previously earned the Purple Heart. He also has a memorial marker at Hillcrest Cemetery in Lufkin, TX. Collins also has a memorial marker at Irwin Memorial Cemetery in Ohiopyle, PA. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward Q. May, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Jack D. Mills NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harry E. Washer NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Dale M. Collins USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25C Mitchell 41-12889 "12889 in accident Jan 31, 1942" [sic] Missing Air Crew Report 16486 (MACR 16486) created retroactively circa 1945-1946 does not list the serial number or crew positions and references a report of death attached to 293 file that does not appear in report. Lufkin Daily News "Lt, Jack Mills" circa 1944 "Lt. Jack Mills, 22, son of Mrs. W. F. Milles, of Lufkin, was officially reported among Angelina war casualties. Missing since Oct. 23 [1942], the war department notified his parents that the youth was a victim of a routine flight in the South Pacific. He was a navigator." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward Q. May Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jack D. Mills American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harry E. Washer American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Dale M. Collins FindAGrave - 2LT Edward Quarterman May Jr. (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Edward Q. May Jr. (memorial marker photos) FindAGrave - 2Lt Jack D. Mills (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - LT Jack D. Mills (photo, obituary, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Harry E Washer (tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - Pvt Dale M Collins (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Pvt Dale M Collins (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Dale Myers Collins (memorial marker photo) The Daily Telegraph "Wrecked Plane Seen On Reef" May 11, 1948 page 5 Brisbane Telegraph "War Planes' Wreckage" May 13, 1948 page 1 The Argus "Plane on reef may contain skeletons" May 13, 1948 page 1 Daily Mercury "Search of Opal Reef Wreckage" May 15, 1948 page 2 Australia @ War - Loss of a B-25 Mitchell Bomber on 23 October 1942 Australia @ War - Crash of a B-25 Mitchell North of Cairns on 23 October 1942 Thanks to Peter Dunn, Edward Rogers and Daniel Leahy for their assistance with this profile Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated February 12, 2023
|
 B-25  MIA 4 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
