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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 500th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Harlan H. Peterson (MIA / KIA) Stanton, IA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Lloyd S. Durmeyer (MIA / KIA) New Orleans, LA Radio T/Sgt William J. Schneider, 36228290 (MIA / KIA) Milwaukee, WI Engineer S/Sgt Willie F. Free,14138218 (MIA / KIA) Fulton County, GA Gunner S/Sgt Micahel R. Korczynski, 12027061 (MIA / KIA) New York, NY Photographer S/Sgt Fred W. Behling, 12038642 5th Combat Camera Unit (MIA / KIA) Essex County, NJ Crashed October 18, 1943 MACR 987 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8221. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-5 Mitchell serial number 41-30056. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History During March 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS) "Rough Raiders". Assigned to pilot by Dougherty with crew chief Jones. Nicknamed "Sorry Satchul" in block letters with the nose art of a figure leaning over with their head in a tree stump. Converted into a B-25D-1 strafer variant by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. When lost engine R-2600-13 serial numbers (left) 41-26570 and (right) 41-28624, weapon serial numbers unknown. Mission History On October 18, 1943 took off from Dobodura piloted by 1st Lt. Harlan H. Peterson on a bombing mission against Rabaul without fighter escort. Aboard was photographer SSgt Behling from the 5th Combat Camera Unit (5th CCU). Over the target, this B-25 along with B-25D "Tondelayo" 41-30669 and B-25D "SNAFU" 41-30054 attacked a 6,000 ton ship off Vunapope. Reportedly, the turret gunner Korczynski shot down two attacking fighters before their bomber's left engine was hit and they dropped out of formation. After successfully ditching into St. Georges Channel, the bomber was strafed by 7-8 enemy fighters. None of the crew survived. When this plane failed to return it was official listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on January 14, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Peterson earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Mamrelund Cemetery in Stanton, Iowa. Durmeyer earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Metairie Cemetery in New Orleans, LA. Schneider earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. Free earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. Korczynski earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. Behling earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-5 Mitchell 41-30056 "30056 (345th BG, 500th BS) lost Oct 18, 1943, Papua New Guinea. MACR 987" Missing Air Crew Report 987 (MACR 987) created October 22, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harlan H. Peterson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lloyd S. Durmeyer American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William J. Schneider American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Willie F. Free American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Micahel R. Korczynski American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Fred W. Behling FindAGrave - 1Lt Harlan H Peterson (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1LT Harlan Howard Luther Peterson (photo, memorial marker) FindAGrave - 2Lt Lloyd Stanley Durmeyer (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Lloyd S. Durmeyer (obituary, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt William J Schneider (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSGT Willie F Free (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Michael R Korczynski (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Fred W Behling (tablets of the missing photo) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D Mitchell 41-30056 Gunfight at Rabaul : The True Story of an Unescorted Raid By B-25 Strafers of the 345th Bomb Group on October 18, 1943 (1978) pages 24-28 Ordeal of Tondelayo artwork by Jack Fellows Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 52 (map), 66-69 (October 18, 1943), 69 (photo), 194 (artwork caption), 195 (artwork Ordeal of Tondelayo), 366 (October 16, 1943 41-30056), 391 (500th BS, 41-30056), 445 (index Peterson), 477 (index Sorry Satchul) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 10, 2025
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 B-25  MIA 6 Missing |
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