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| USAAF 5th AF 3rd BG 90th BS |
Pilot Captain Raymond T. Petersen, O-022087 C.O., 90th BS (MIA / KIA) Woodbridge, NY Co-Pilot P/O Robert Murray Wilson, RAAF 406122 (MIA / KIA) Mount Lawley, WA Gunner SSgt Julian J. Champagne, 11019142 (survived) Radio/Gunner Sgt James Campbell Graham, RAAF 405732 (survived) Passenger Captain John W. Herbert O-461614 (MIA / KIA) New York, NY Crashed November 24, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Inglewood. Constructors Number 82-5631. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25C Mitchell serial number 41-12996. 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 November 24, 1942 took off from Port Moresby piloted by Captain Raymond T. Petersen on a bombing mission over the Vitiaz Strait. Aboard was Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) co-pilot P/O Robert Murray Wilson and gunner Sgt James C. Graham. Also aboard was passenger Captain John W. Herbert who was an intelligence officer. This B-25 crashed into the sea in the vicinity of French Harbor off the north coast of New Guinea. Pilot Petersen and co-pilot Wilson were killed in the crash and remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Fates of the Crew Gunners Champagne and Graham survived the crash and after a length escape and evasion returned to duty. Memorials Three of the crew, pilot Petersen, co-pilot Wilson and Herbert were officially declared dead the day of the mission. All three remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Petersen was officially declared dead the day of the mission and posthumously promoted to the rank of Major. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Petersen is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Wilson was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is commemorated at the Lae War Cemetery on the Lae Memorial, panel 6. Herbert was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Herbert is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Champagne survived World War II and continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and served in the Korean War. He passed away September 6, 1999 at age 77. Champagne is buried at South Cemetery in Brooklyn, CT. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Julian J. Champagne WW2 Nominal Roll - Robert Murray Wilson WW2 Nominal Roll - James Campbell Graham USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25C Mitchell 41-12996 "12996 MIA Nov 26, 1942" P/O Wilson's Casualty File (NAA: A705, 163/178/475) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Raymond T. Petersen FindAGrave - Maj Raymond T Petersen (obituary, tablets of the missing) CWGC - Robert Murray Wilson FindAGrave - Pilot Officer Robert Murray Wilson (Lae Memorial) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John W. Herbert FindAGrave - CPT John Warne Herbert III (tablets of the missing photo, obituary) FindAGrave - Julian Joseph “Joe” Champagne (grave photo) Thanks to Edward Rogers and Daniel Leahy for additional research and analysis 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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 B-25  MIA 3 Missing |
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