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| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 71st BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Richard Hurst, O-749477 (MIA / KIA, BR) Staten Island, NY Co-Pilot 1st Lt. James A. Henderson, O-736209 (MIA / KIA, BR) Gary, IN Navigator 2nd Lt Aloysius W. Steele, O-706554 (MIA / KIA, BR) Arlington, VA Radio Pfc John J. Creighton, 32645702 (MIA / KIA, BR) New York, NY Gunner Sgt Henry Miga, 31286820 (MIA / KIA, BR) Chicopee Falls, MA Passenger Pfc Schley H. Russell, 34611863 80 SG, 92 SS (MIA / KIA, BR) Pontotoc, MS Passenger Pfc Byron W. Durham, 34680183 80 SG, 92 SS (MIA / KIA, BR) Cairo, GA Passenger TSgt Alfred L. Milazzo, 32198661 928 Signal Battalion (MIA / KIA, BR) Brooklyn, NY Passenger Cpl Gene J. Morris, 18129418 56th Fighter Control Sqn (MIA / KIA, BR) Kansas City, MS MIA July 1, 1944 MACR 7344 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8347. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-10 Mitchell serial number 41-30182. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), at the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field near Townsville. On July 22, 1943 assigned to the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) "Sun Setters", 71st Bombardment Squadron (71st BS) "The Wolf Pack". Piloted by Howard Paquin, then Cronn and Garton. Crew chief Tobias and later Crabtree. Possibly, nicknamed "King's Cross Katie", but that could also just as easily be three or four other bombers in the 71st Bombardment Squadron (71st BS). Mission History On July 1, 1944 at 9:07am took off from Saidor Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Richard Hurst on a courier flight bound for Nadzab Airfield. Aboard were four passengers from the 80th Service Group, 92nd Service Squadron, 928th Signal Battalion and 56th Fighter Control Squadron. The weather at the time of take off was good. The last known position was believed to be 65 miles northwest of Lae. When this aircraft failed to arrive it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage In fact, this B-25 crashed at 9,000' in a canyon in the Finisterre Range (Finisterres) near Sawan. Postwar, this B-25 crash site was found and several of the crew were recovered by American Graves Registration Service (AGRS). The crash site was rediscovered by Bruce Hoy of the PNG Museum at 9,000' in a canyon in the Finisterre Range (Finisterres) near Sawan. Bruce Hoy adds: "This aircraft was identified by me from serial number off one of its engines." In October 1980, US Army CILHI unsuccessfully searched for this crash site. In 1998, Alfred Hagen hired a Pacific Helicopter chopper and with the help of Richard Leahy rediscovered the crash site. Afterwards, a team from US Army CILHI visited the site and recovered additional remains, including co-pilot Henderson who was recovered and identified. 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. After the crew were individually identified, a rosette was placed next to each of their names to indicate the were accounted-for. After the postwar recovery of remains, a group burial marker was placed at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 graves 7946. On May 6, 2004 after the additional recovery of remains, individual graves were added at Arlington National Cemetery in section 60 for five of the crew. Henderson at 7946. Creighton at 7947. Durham at 7948. Hurst at 7949. Miga at 7950. Gene at 7951. Steele at 7952. After the recovery of remains, Russell was buried at ECRU Cemetery in Ecru, MS. Durham also has a memorial marker at Pine Forest Baptist Church Cemetery in Climax, GA. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-10 Mitchell 41-30182 "30182 (38th BG) lost Jul 1, 1944. MACR 7344" Missing Aircrew Crew Report 7344 (MACR 7344) created July 4, 1944 History of the 56th Fighter Control Squadron Chapter 9 (1-31 July 1944) AFHRA IRISNUM: A0832 (PDF pages 826-827) "One tragedy marred a perfect month, genial Cpl Glen Morris, ASN 18129418, enroute to Australia on furlough, was aboard a B-25 which vanished without a trace, July 1st." PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D Mitchell 41-30182 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard Hurst "Remains recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Richard Hurst (individual grave photos) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Richard Hurst (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - Richard Hurst (individual grave photo, group burial photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James A. Henderson "Remains recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - James A. Henderson (individual grave photos) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - James A. Henderson (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - James A. Henderson (photo, group burial photo) Associated Press "1st Lt. James A. Henderson" October 15, 2003 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Aloysius W. Steele "Remains recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Aloysius W. Steele (individual grave photos) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Aloysius W. Steele (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - Aloysius W. Steele (group burial photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John J. Creighton "Remains recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - John J. Creighton (individual grave photos) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - John J. Creighton (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - PFC John J. Creighton (group burial / individual grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Henry Miga "Remains recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Henry Miga (individual grave photos) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Henry Miga (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - Sgt Henry Miga (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Henry Miga (group burial photo, individual grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Schley H. Russell "Remains recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Schley H. Russell (individual grave photos) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Schley H. Russell (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - PFC Schley H. "Dan" Russell (grave photo) FindAGrave - PFC Schley H. Russell (tablets of the missing / group burial photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Byron W. Durham "Remains recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Byron W. Durham (individual grave photos) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Byron W. Durham (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - PFC Byron W Durham (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - PFC Byron W. Durham (individual grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alfred L. Milazzo "Remains recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Alfred L. Milazzo (individual grave photos) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Alfred L. Milazzo (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - Alfred L. Milazzo (group burial photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gene J. Morris "Remains recovered" Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Gene J. Morris (individual grave photos) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Gene J. Morris (group burial grave photos) FindAGrave - Corp Gene J. Morris (group burial photo, individual grave photo) Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) pages 362, AII-10, AIII-6, ix-6 (Hurst) Thanks to Richard Leahy and Bruce Hoy for additional information 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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