Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
  B-25D-10 Mitchell Serial Number 41-30239  
USAAF
5th AF
38th BG
405th BS

Pilot  2nd Lt. Edsal L. Crews, O-735532 (KIA) OK
Co-Pilot  2nd Lt. Lewis A . Cleveland, O-667946 (KIA)
Navigator  1st Lt. George R. Branzell, O-729951 (KIA)
Radio/Gunner  T/Sgt Robert E. Hannan, Jr., 3533156 (KIA)
Gunner  S/Sgt James J. Patrick, 34058001 (KIA)

Crashed  October 12, 1943 at 10:40am
MACR  811

Aircraft History
Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Delivered to the U.S. Army. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 38th Bombardment Group, 405th Bombardment Squadron. No known nose art or nickname. When lost engines R-2600-13 serial numbers 41-29310 and 41-2890.

Mission History
On October 12, 1943 took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby on a bombing mission against Rabaul. Last sighted three miles NNE of Kerevat Airfield.

Wreckage
Postwar, a RAAF Searcher Team located the crash site at at roughly 04.26 152.04. The remains of the crew were recovered and transported to the United States.

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After the recovery of remains, the crew were transported to the United States for permanent burial.

Crews is buried at Fort Gibson National Cemetery at section 5, site 3021-A.

Branzell at Arlington National Cemetery at section 34 site 2815.

Patrick, Cleveland and Hannan are buried in a group burial at Marietta National Cemetery at section Q site 125.

References
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D Mitchell 41-30239
FindAGrave - Edsal J Crews (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Lewis A Cleveland (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - Lieut George R Branzell (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Robert E Hannan, Jr (group burial photo
FindAGrave - James J Patrick (group burial photo)

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
January 12, 2023

 

Tech Info
B-25

Map
Aprox
4.26
152.04

POW / MIA
MIA
5 Missing
Resolved
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram