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| USAAF 5th AF 417th BG 673th BS Former Assignments 38th BG 71st BS  AGRS 1959  Brian Bennett 1999 |
Pilot 1st Lt Edward V. Atwell, Jr., O-803745 (MIA / KIA) Wilmington, DE Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Chester N. Burns, O-671634 (MIA / KIA) Oklahoma City, OK Crew Chief S/Sgt Wilford F. Schappell, 13045713 (MIA / KIA) South Temple, PA Passenger Captain Randall M. Dorton Jr., O-724154 (MIA / KIA) San Francisco, CA Passenger Sgt Haynes C. Jump, 15019610 (MIA / KIA) Elizebethtown, KY Passenger Cpl Dillard Harmon, 34280054 (MIA / KIA) Columbia, TN Passenger Cpl Paul T. Donahue, 31152185 (MIA / KIA) South Portland, ME Passenger 1st Lt Robert J. Arndt, O-669840 (MIA / KIA) Hastings, NB Passenger S/Sgt Samuel F. Carter, 34300380 (MIA / KIA) Fayetteville, NC Passenger Cpl Norman R. Suhr, 12009668 (MIA / KIA) Rochester, NY Crashed May 22, 1944 MACR 6136 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Inglewood. Constructors Number 87-7857. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25-D Mitchell serial number 41-29692. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific 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 "Torrid Tessie The Terror" in capital block letters with "The Terror" in double quotation marks with the nose art of Walt Disney's Big Bad Wolf's head inside a white circle, the motif of the 71st BS. Converted into a B-25D-1 strafer version by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Later, assigned to the 417th Bombardment Group (417th BG) "Sky Lancers", 673rd Bombardment Squadron (673rd BS) "Flying Cowboys". This plane retained the prior nickname and was used as a transport with the armament removed. When lost engines R-2600-13 serial numbers 43-24328 and 43-37389. Mission History On May 22, 1944 at 2:25pm took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 1st Lt Edward V. Atwell, Jr. on an administrative flight bound for Saidor Airfield. The weather was cumulus clouds with tops up to 18,000' with bases on the ranges and visibility of 20 miles. When this aircraft failed to arrive it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage In fact, this plane crashed in the Saruwaged Range between Erap River and Sorop River, north-northwest of Mount Sayapomia at roughly 9,500' elevation. During May 1959, the crash site was first located discovered by locals who reported the find to Lutheran missionaries at Lae, who then reported the plane to American authorities. Recovery of Remains During June 1959 a team from American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) visited the crash site and recovered the remains of the crew. During 2004, the crash site was revisited by a team JPAC led by Captain Brett Funk with Brian Bennett. Memorials The crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Schappell, Donahue and Carter were officially declared dead on May 22, 1945 [sic]. Everyone aboard earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. On March 7, 1960 the crew was buried in a group burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 81, site 306-307. Carter was officially declared dead on May 22, 1945 [sic]. He also has a memorial marker, location unknown. Likely, in a private cemetery in his hometown. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward V. Atwell, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Chester N. Burns NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Wilford F. Schappell NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Randall M. Dorton Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Haynes C. Jump NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Dillard Harmon NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Paul T. Donahue NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert J. Arndt NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Samuel F. Carter NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Norman R. Suhr USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D Mitchell 41-29692 "29692 (417th BG) lost May 22,1944. MACR 6136" Missing Air Crew Report 6136 (MACR 6136) created May 27, 1944 U.S. Army AGRS Search & Recovery #1-1959 (Australian New Guinea - WWII Dead) Sept 22, 1959 RAAF Survey of Aircraft Wreckage, Papua New Guinea, page 8 "#287 | 06.23-146.39 | Erap River | USAC Mitchell B-25 41-26962 [sic B-25D 41-29692] | Wreckage recovered Erap and Sorop Rivers" PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25C Mitchell 41-29692 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward V. Atwell, Jr. "remains interred in a group burial" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Chester N. Burns "remains interred in a group burial" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wilford F. Schappell "remains interred in a group burial" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Randall M. Dorton Jr. "remains interred in a group burial" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Haynes C. Jump "remains interred in a group burial" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Dillard Harmon "remains interred in a group burial" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Paul T. Donahue "remains interred in a group burial" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert J. Arndt "remains interred in a group burial" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Samuel F. Carter "remains interred in a group burial" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Norman R. Suhr "remains interred in a group burial" FindAGrave - 1LT Edward Victor Atwell, Jr (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Edward Victor Atwell, Jr (group burial photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Chester Nelson Burns (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Chester N Burns (group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Wilford F Schappell (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Wilford F Schappell (group burial photo) FindAGrave - CPT Randall M Dorton, Jr (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Randall M Dorton, Jr (group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Haynes C Jump (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Haynes C Jump (group burial photo) FindAGrave - CPL Dillard Harmon (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Corp Dillard Harmon (group burial photo) FindAGrave - CPL Paul T Donahue (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Paul T Donahue (group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Robert J Arndt (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Robert J. Arndt (photo, group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Samuel F Carter (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Samuel F Carter (group burial photo / memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - CPL Norman R Suhr (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Norman R Suhr (group burial photo) Thanks to Brian Bennett 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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