|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 501st BS Former Assignments 38th BG  345th BG 1943  Dennis Gray 1973  Justin Taylan 2004 |
Pilot 1st Lt William H. Cather (survived) Jefferson County, AL Co-Pilot Lt. Paul Murphy (survived) Engineer Sgt James F. Immekus, 33174003 (survived) Allegheny County, PA Gunner Sgt Joe Seale (survived) Crashed August 26, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8328. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-5 Mitchell serial number 41-30163. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG). Converted into a B-25D-1 strafer by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field at Townsville. On August 10, 1943 assigned to the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 501st Bombardment Squadron (501st BS) "Black Panthers". Nicknamed "Butch" (in double quotations) in block letters with the nose art of a boxer with a dog's head seated wearing boxing gloves and boots inside a circle with a border. Mission History On August 26, 1943 took off form 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt William H. Cather on a local flight to 30 Mile Drome (Rogers) to pick up another crew. Landing in wet conditions, this bomber slid off the runway and was damaged. None of the crew ere injured. Afterwards, the damaged B-25 was transferred to the 374th Service Squadron and stripped of parts then abandoned. Wreckage The wreckage of this B-25 remained at the western end of the runway. During the late 1970s, the nickname was still visible on the nose. In the 1990s the wreckage was partially scrapped. By 2004, only the center section remained, the rest of the bomber was likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. Albert H. Cross remembers: "In 1957-1978 there was a wreck of a B-25 Mitchell, with the name 'Butch' on the nose, lying alongside the road at the other end of the strip. Just the fuselage section. The plane was in poor condition - no wings, all inside fittings/instruments removed." During the late 1970s, the The Air Museum of Papua New Guinea had plans to salvage this bomber, but never recovered the wreckage. Justin Taylan adds: "By 2004, this B-25 had been largely scrapped, only the bomb bay, part of the center section, and part of the left wing remained." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William H. Cather NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James F. Immekus USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-5 Mitchell 41-30163 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D Mitchell 41-30163 Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 40, 397 Pacific Aircraft Wrecks (1979) page 79 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
|
 B-25  Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
