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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 499th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt Octave J. Daniel (survived) Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Russsell N. Erum (survived) Navigator 1st Lt. James T. Bryan (survived) Force Landed December 22, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8186. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-5 Mitchell serial number 41-30021. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History On April 1, 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 499th Bombardment Squadron (499th BS) "Bat Outta Hell". Assigned to pilots Taylor and later Daniel with crew chiefs SSgt Edward J. Cooley Sgt and later Donald E. Thomas. Nicknamed "Shif'less Skonk" with the nose art of a skunk carrying a bomb on the left side of the nose and a skunk holding a bomb in a different pose on the right side of the nose. A scoreboard with bombs indicating missions flown was on the left side of the nose. During the middle of 1943 onward, this B-25 flew combat mission over New Guinea by regular crew including pilot 1st Lt. Glenn W. Taylor, co-pilot 2nd Lt Octave J. Daniel and bombardier/navigator 1st Lt. James T. Bryan. This bomber was modified into model D-1 strafer by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field at Townsville. Mission History On December 22, 1943 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 1st Lt Octave J. Daniel on a low level mission against Boram Airfield near Wewak. During the attack, this B-25 was hit by anti-aircraft fire from four anti-aircraft fire from guns near the hospital near Wiruri. The damaged included a large hole in the left flap and the hydraulic system was knocked out. Returning, this bomber was escorted by B-25 piloted by Snyder and attempted to return to base. During the return flight near Gusap the left engine began to backfire and caught fire and Daniel elected to turn around and make an immediate landing at the emergency strip at Gusap Airfield. Without hydraulic or electrical power, requiring the landing gear to be lowered by hand cranking them down, but failed to lock into place. When the B-25 touched down, the gear folded but the crew survived unhurt and broke out into laughter once they were safely on the ground. Fates of the Crew Afterwards, B-25 piloted by Lt. Snyder landed and transported the crew to Port Moresby. Learning his B-25 was written off, crew chief Thomas broke into tears. Erum went Missing In Action (MIA) piloting B-25D "The Ringmaster" 41-30259 on March 26, 1944 Wreckage Later, this B-25 was salvaged. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-5 Mitchell 41-30021 Warpath Over The Pacific (1996) pages 99-100, 101 (photo), 386 FindAGrave - 1Lt Russell Norman Erum (photo, tablets of the missing photo) 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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