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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 500th BS   345th BG c1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Cecil O. Jones, O-734240 (KIA, BR) Caswell County, NC Engineer S/Sgt John P. O'Neill, 32427527 (KIA, BR) Radio Cpl Simon E. Labatt, 14053711 (KIA, BR) LA Gunner Sgt Gerald W. Bingham, 19123429 (KIA, BR) Pondera County, ND Gunner TSgt Walter C. Schroeder, 35258868 (KIA, BR) Marion Township, IN Passenger Pvt. Henry A. Just, 33193152 (KIA, BR) Washington, DC Passenger Cpl. Edward Kempsey, 32519325 (KIA, BR) Bronx, NY Crashed September 29, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8218. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-5 Mitchell serial number 41-30053. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS) during March 1943 to pilot Corder with crew chief Schroeder. Nicknamed "Axis Fate" on the left side of the nose with the nose art of a dwarf wearing a hat with a long white beard, likely inspired by the Walt Disney "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" (1937) animated film. A score board was painted below the cockpit on the left side of the nose with at least three bomb markings indicating missions flown. Modified into a B-25D-1 strafer variant at the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Mission History On September 29, 1943 took off from Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Cecil O. Jones on a training mission. For unknown reasons, this bomber crashed into the sea near the SS Pruth (Moresby Wreck). The cause of the crash was unknown and the entire crew was killed in the crash. Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of the crew were recovered. Postwar, the remains of their remains were transported to the Philippines and United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Jones is buried at Danville National Cemetery section K site 1549. O'Neill has an unknown burial, presumably in a private cemetery in his hometown. Labatt is buried at Alexandria National Cemetery section C, site 275A. Bingham is buried at Custer National Cemetery (Custer National Cemetery) in Crow Agency, MT at section D site 9. Schroeder is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section B site 382. He is also memorialized at Saint John Lutheran Cemetery in Decatur, IN with a memorial marker and is also commemorated on a marker for the men of the congregation that died in World War II . Just is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section F site 16. Kempsey has an unknown burial, presumably in a private cemetery in his hometown. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John P. O'Neill NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Simon E. Labatt NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Gerald W. Bingham NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Walter C. Schroeder NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Henry A. Just NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward Kempsey USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D Mitchell 41-30053 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D Mitchell 41-30053 Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 51, 72, 366, 391 Wrecks & Reefs (1994) page 218 FindAGrave - Cecil O. Jones (grave photo) FindAGrave - Simon E. Labatt (grave photo) FindAGrave - Gerald W. Bingham (grave photo) FindAGrave - Walter C. Schroeder (grave photo) FindAGrave - Walter C. Schroeder (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Henry A. Just (grave 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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