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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 499th BS  USAAF 1943 |
Pilot Captain Jack W. Snyder, O-664676 (MIA / KIA) Brewster, OH Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Wylie E. Williams, Jr., O-794734 (MIA / KIA) GA Navigator 2nd Lt. Ernest A. Balla, O-674102 (MIA / KIA) Buffalo, NY Engineer-Gunner SSgt Hyman Prosten, 32358635 (MIA / KIA) NJ Engineer SSgt Lawrence L. Winterscheidt, 37212270 (MIA / KIA) Fairview, KS Gunner SSgt John O. Huddleston, 14108167 (MIA / KIA) Decatur, AL MIA January 16, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8206. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as a B-25D-5 Mitchell serial number 41-30041. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. This aircraft was converted into a B-25D-1 strafer by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Wartime History During March 1943, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 499th Bombardment Squadron (498th BS) "Bats Outta Hell". Nicknamed "The Snatch". Assigned to pilot Snyder with crew chief Burns. Also known as 042 for the last three digits of the serial number. Mission History On January 16, 1944 took off leading a three plane armed reconnaissance mission over the southern coast of New Britain in search of targets of opportunity. Over Jacquinot Bay, the trio spotted supplies on a jetty at Palmalmal Plantation (Pal Mal Mal) and began a bombing and strafing attack against the jetty and set it on fire. While going around for a second attack, this B-25 hit by heavy machine gun fire from shore in the right engine and made a slow roll to the right and crashed upside down into Jacquinot Bay roughly 25 yards from shore. On impact, the bomber exploded and burst into flames, killing everyone aboard on impact. When this B-25 failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Snyder earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Union Lawn Cemetery in Navarre, OH at Section 3, Row 18. Williams earned the earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas, TX in Woodland Section Lot 93. Balla earned the earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Prosten earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Winterscheidt earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Seneca, Kansas at Sec 5 Lot 2 Sp. Huddleston earned the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Jack W. Snyder NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Wylie E. Williams, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Ernest A. Balla NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Hyman Prosten NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John O. Huddleston USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-5 Mitchell 41-30041 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jack W. Snyder FindAGrave - Capt Jack Warren Snyder (photo, tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - Capt Jack Warren Snyder (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wylie E. Williams, Jr. FindAGrave - 2Lt Wylie E Williams Jr. (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Wylie Earnest Williams Jr. (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ernest A. Balla FindAGrave - 2Lt Ernest Anthony Balla (news, memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Hyman Prosten FindAGrave - SSgt Hyman Prosten (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lawrence L. Winterscheidt FindAGrave - SSgt Lawrence L Winterscheidt (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Lawrence L Winterscheidt (photo, memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John O. Huddleston FindAGrave - SSgt John Oberd Huddleston (tablets of the missing photo) Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 111 (map), 113 (January 16, 1944), 367-368 (January 16, 1944 crew list), 386 (499th BS, 41-30042) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 30, 2025 |
 B-25  MIA 6 Missing |
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