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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 499th BS Former Assignment 22nd BG 2nd BS 33rd BS |
Pilot 2nd Lt Howard F. Rhode, O-804401 (KIA, BR) NJ Co-Pilot 2/Lt James G. Awenius, O-691078 (KIA, BR) CO Engineer S/Sgt Jack A. Kleeb, 35680223 (KIA, BR) Newport, KY Radio S/Sgt Harold L. Nelson, 36730178 (KIA, BR) IL Passenger 1st Lt. Jack Hoopes, O-561301 (KIA, BR) Marysville, OH Passenger Sgt Raymond V. Farmer, 15043664 (KIA, BR) IN Crashed May 9, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8330. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-5 Mitchell serial number 41-30165. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), 33rd Bombardment Squadron (33rd BS). Later, assigned the 2nd Bombardment Squadron (2nd BS). On January 31, 1944 transferred to 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 499th Bombardment Squadron (499th BS) "Bat Outta Hell". Nicknamed "Slapsy" with crew chief Sing. Mission History On May 9, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 2nd Lt Howard F. Rhode on a mission to test defensive search lights in the area. When the search lights began tracking this B-25, it suddenly dove straight down and was tracked as it descended until it crashed into the ground killing the entire crew on impact. Likely, the pilots became blinded by the searchlight beams. The searchlight beams and crash were observed by hundreds in the area. Recovery of Remains Afterwards, the bodies of the crew were recovered from the crash site and initially buried in New Guinea then transported to the Philippines and United States for permenant burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Rhode is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot L, row 13, grave 32. Awenius at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot Q grave 103. Kleeb was buried on June 22, 1948 at Saint Stephen Cemetery in Fort Thomas, KY. Nelson is buried at Bluff City Cemetery in Elgin, IL. Hoopes is buried in Oakdale Cemetery in Marysville, OH at section F, lot 147. Farmer at Manila American Cemetery at plot C row 14 grave 44. Relatives William C. Hoopes (nephew) "My uncle, 1st Lt. Jack C. Hoopes was a passenger along with 4 other crewmen on this aircraft. Through relatives I've been told my uncle's remains were never recovered, although they buried an empty coffin in my hometown. I'm currently obtaining official military records of my uncle to find out the exact disposition of his body and 4 other aircraft crew members. He was from Marysville, Ohio, age 25." References USAF Serial Number Search Results - North American B-25D-5 Mitchell 41-30165 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D Mitchell 41-30165 Warpath Across the Pacific pages 100, 144, 369, 387 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Howard F. Rhode American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Raymond V. Farmer FindAGrave - 2Lt Howard F Rhode (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2Lt James G. Awenius (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Jack Alexander Kleeb (grave photo) FindAGrave - Harold L Nelson (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Jack C Hoopes (photos, grave photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Raymond V Farmer (tablets of the missing) 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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