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| USAAF 5th AF 3rd BG 13th BS |
Pilot Captain George S. Thomas, O-409063 (MIA / KIA) TX Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Harold A. Heinbuch (0-789161 (MIA / KIA) OH Radio Sgt Glenn F. Crawford, Jr., 14047825 (MIA / KIA) GA Passenger Captain A. Leonard "Doc" Hymes, O-381202 (MIA / KIA) NY Passenger Captain Neville D. Blakemore, O-360793 (MIA / KIA) Richmond, VA Passenger 2nd Lt. Francis I. Wallace, O-660424 (MIA / KIA) MA Passenger Sgt Wallace O. Cloy, 14014540 (MIA / KIA) Catahoula, LA Passenger S/Sgt Carl E. Collins, 14045361 (MIA / KIA) FL Passenger Sgt Eugene J. Esposito, 11016171 (MIA / KIA) VT Passenger Pvt Alexander J. Gow, Jr., 32185486 (MIA / KIA) NJ Passenger Tec5 John M. Lucas, 35050736 (MIA / KIA) OH MIA December 31, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-7898. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D Mitchell serial number 41-29733. 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), 13th Bombardment Squadron (13th BS). Nicknamed "Hell's Belles". Mission History On December 31, 1942 took off from Port Moresby piloted by Captain George S. Thomas on a flight bound for Charters Towers Airfield. It is believed this bomber went down due to bad weather and crashed into the Coral Sea. When this aircraft failed to arrive it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. As the flight was non-combat, none of the crew or passengers earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Thomas also has a memorial marker at Kaufman Cemetery in Kaufman, TX. Heinbuch also has a memorial marker in Rose Hill Memorial Park Cemetery in Massillon, OH at section D, row 20. Esposito also has a memorial marker in Calvary Cemetery in Rutland, VT. References Note, some sources list this B-25D "Hell's Belles" serial number 41-39733 [sic 41-29733]. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D Mitchell 41-29733 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George S. Thomas American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold J. Heinbuch American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Glenn F. Crawford, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - A. Leonard Hymes American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Neville D. Blakemore American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Francis I. Wallace American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wallace O. Cloy American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Carl E. Collins American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Eugene J. Esposito American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alexander J. Gow, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John M. Lucas FindAGrave - CPT George Spikes Thomas (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Capt George Spikes Thomas (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Harold J Heinbuch (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Harold J Heinbuch (memorial marker) FindAGrave - Sgt Glenn F Crawford, Jr (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Capt A Leonard Hymes (tablets of the missing photo, photo) FindAGrave - Capt Neville D Blakemore (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2Lt Francis I Wallace (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Wallace O Cloy (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Carl E Collins (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Eugene J. Esposito (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Eugene J. Esposito (memorial marker) FindAGrave - Pvt Alexander J Gow, Jr (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Tec5 John M Lucas (tablets of the missing photo) Oz@War - Crash of a B-25D Mitchell into the Coral Sea between Port Moresby and Charters Towers on 31 December 1942 Thanks to Edward Rogers for 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 11 Missing |
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