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| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 71st BS  USAAF 1942  One Minute in Hell by Steve Fergusson |
Pilot 1st Lt. James A. Hungerpiller, O-792543 (MIA / KIA, BR) Augusta, GA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Lonnie C. Shattuck Jr., O-672225 (MIA / KIA, BR) Belton, TX Navigator 2nd It Everett A. Rice, O-669112 (MIA / KIA, BR) Mildred, MN Gunner SSgt Frank A. Nino, 33080419 (MIA / KIA, BR) PA Radio SSgt Walter D. Burgess, 35357320 (MIA / KIA, BR) Franklin Township, IN MIA November 2, 1943 MACR 1218 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8355. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-10 Mitchell serial number 41-30190. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Modified into a B-25D-1 strafer variant by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Wartime History During August 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) "Sun Setters", 71st Bombardment Squadron (71st BS) "The Wolf Pack". Nicknamed "Sleepy Time Gal". When lost, engines R-2600-13 serial numbers 41-31125 and 43-37350. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers 366717, 16542, 153933, 119205, 357646, 356751, 468932 and 87505 in the nose, two .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown 364014 and 364588 in the top turret plus two .30 caliber machine guns in the waist makers unknown serial numbers 120741 and 6815. Mission History On November 2, 1943 took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. James A Hungerpiller as one of nine from 71st BS on a flight to Dobodura Airfield then took off again on a low level strike against Japanese shipping in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. After take off, one B-25 aborted due to engine trouble. This B-25 was leading element leader with B-25D 41-30248 pilot Orr off his right wing. Joined by eight B-25s from 405th BS. At 11:20am the formation rendezvoused with fighter cover plus B-25s from 345th BG and 3rd BG over Gona Wreck then proceeded to New Britain flying via Gasmata and Wide Bay then over St. George Channel then northward toward the Credner Islands. The weather was overcast with limited visibility. Approaching the target, two destroyers off the mouth of the Warangoi River opened fire. To evade them, the entire formation turned towards New Ireland then continued northward towards Rabaul. The formation reached at North Daughter (Tovanumbatir) and Mother (Mount Kombiu) and strafed building that triggered anti-aircraft fire. The B-25s from 71st turned to the north and formed into attack elements of two bombers. Meanwhile, B-25s from 345th BG were striking Rabaul. Over the target, the B-25s made individual bombing and strafing runs. This bomber and B-25D 41-30248 piloted by 1st Lt. John E. Orr began their attack flying southward over Simpson Harbor. This B-25 targeted two destroyers and claimed a direct hit with one bomb and another bounced off the deck and landed in the water. During the attack, anti-aircraft fire hit this bomber's left engine causing it to catch fire north of the Beehives (Dawapia Rocks). Although damaged, Hungerpiller made a bombing and strafing run on a heavy cruiser and flew directly over, but his bomb fell short and an explosion was observed aboard the plane, likely a fuel tank exploding. Seconds later, this B-25 crashed on the western edge of Simpson Harbor. Last seen by B-25D 41-30248 piloted by 1st Lt. John E. Orr and gunner SSgt Frederick Bossi. When this plane failed to return it was declared Missing In Action (MIA). Afterwards, the mission was dubbed "Bloody Tuesday". 1st Lt. John E. Orr pilot B-25D 41-30248 statement in Missing Air Crew Report 1218 (MACR 1218) page 16: "I was flying flying on the the right wing of plane 41-30190. After coming over the township of Rabaul into Simpson Harbor, I saw plane #41-30190 [this bomber] start a run on two destroyers. I picked a merchant vessel adjacent to the destroyers for my target and was my run very close to the run of plane #41-30190. I observed plane #41-30190 make its run but could not observe the results. We pulled up together after our runs on the targets and had reached an altitude of approximately 200 feet when I observed the left engine of plane #41-30190 burst into flames. The plane then made a quick turn to the right and passed directly beneath my plane losing altitude and speed. As I last saw the plane it was heading toward two heavy cruisers anchored near shore on the west side of the harbor. The left engine was burning fiercely and there appeared to be a secondary explosion and fire as if the left main and left auxiliary wing tanks had ignited. The condition of the plane appeared to be such that continued flight for more than a few seconds would have been impossible." SSgt Frederick Bossi gunner B-25D 41-30248 statement in Missing Air Crew Report 1218 (MACR 1218) page 15: "Upon coming over the township of Rabaul into the [Simpson] Harbor I first noticed plane #190 [this bomber] make a run and drop its bombs on two destroyer berthed in the upper part of said Harbor, only a few seconds from Customs Wharf and at approximately the point Known as N.D.L. Wharf. I saw one of the bombs score a direct hit on one of the destroyers and cause an immediate explosion and fire. The other bomb skipped on the ship's dock and fall in the water some fifty feet passed it's prow and among the swimming sailors. Having observed this my attention was immediately attracted by smoke escaping from the left engine of the plane #190. It passed to our right side and losing considerable speed continued on a course west of the Beehives and toward land, and crashed in flames some three hundred feet over the heavy cruiser anchored there. The above seems to me [to be] as accurate as I can remember, although the excitement of the moment might have caused a distortion of my sense of orientation and that proportions. The attached sketch is an attempt to a more graphic illustration." Recovery of Remains Postwar, the remains of the crew were recovered and transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew were declared dead the day of the mission. On February 1, 1950 the entire crew were buried in a group burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 78 sites 1030-1031. Nino also has a memorial marker in Saint John Gualbert Roman Catholic Cemetery in Geistown, PA. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James A. Hungerpiller NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Lonnie C. Shattuck Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Everett A. Rice NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Frank A. Nino NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Walter D. Burgess USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-10 Mitchell 41-30190 Missing Air Crew Report 1218 (MACR 1218) created November 4, 1943 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D Mitchell 41-30190 News "Young brother gets Medal of Dead Hero" Interment in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery - James A. Hungerpiller, Jr. FindAGrave - LT James Arthur “Jimmy” Hungerpiller Jr. (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT James Arthur “Jimmy” Hungerpiller Jr. (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Lonnie Chester Shattuck Jr. (photo, group burial photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Everett Alexander “Fritz” Rice (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Frank Anthony Nino (photo, group burial photo FindAGrave - SSGT Frank A. Nino (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Walter Davis Burgess (group burial photo) Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) pages 235-242 (November 2, 1943), 240 (41-30190), AII-6 (November 2, 1943, 41-30190), AIII-8 (71st BS, 41-30190), ix-2 (index Burgess), ix-6 (index Hungerpiller), ix-10 (index Nino), ix-11 (index Rice), ix-12 (index Shattuck) 38th Bomb Group Association In Memoriam - 71st Lost During The War One Minute in Hell by Steve Ferguson depicts this B-25 on fire over Simpson Harbor on November 2, 1943 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated August 29, 2024
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 B-25  MIA 5 Missing Resolved  Map Nov 2, 1943 |
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