Aircraft History
Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Inglewood. Constructors Number 82-5601. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25C Mitchell serial number 41-12966. Ferried overseas to China-Burma-India (CBI).

Wartime History
Assigned to the 10th Air Force (10th AF), 341st Bombardment Group (341st BG), 491st Bombardment Squadron (491st BS). No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On October 30, 1943 took off from Chakulia Airfield in India. Weather was rain with poor visibility.

Recovery of Remains
Sometime afterwards, the remains of the crew were recovered from the crash site and transported to the United States for permanent burial.

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission.

Smith has a memorial marker at Lehi City Cemetery in Lehi, UT at plot 77, 4, 3. This grave is marked as a memorial marker, but no other grave is known for him in another cemetery.

Muntzinger is buried at Redeemer Lutheran Cemetery in Convoy, OH.

The burials of the other crew members are unknown, but presumed to be in private cemeteries in their hometowns in the United States.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25C Mitchell 41-12966
Missing Aircrew Reports 1059 (MACR 1059)
Missing Aircrew Reports 1085 (MACR 1085)
FindAGrave - Victor Smith (memorial marker)
FindAGrave - Frank W. Majesky
FindAGrave - Daniel J. O'Connor
FindAGrave - Donald R Muntzinger (obituary, grave photo)
FindAGrave - Joe A. Aycub
FindAGrave - Stanley A. Ponkul
Thanks to Daniel Leahy for his assistance with this profile

Last Updated
July 2, 2021