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| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 71st BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Richard P. Schumacher, O-732585 (MIA / KIA) Austin, MN Co-Pilot 2nd Lt William A. Daniels, O-667955 (MIA / KIA) New Orleans, LA Radio S/Sgt Robert R. McCabe, 36249198 (MIA / KIA) Hammond, WI Gunner T/Sgt Owen C. Remillard, 16046639 (MIA / KIA) Denver, CO Observer 2nd Lt Alton W. Howard, Jr., O-666671 (MIA / KIA) Mexico City, Mexico Crashed September 2, 1943 at 10:00am MACR 4508 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8412. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-10 Mitchell serial number 41-30247. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Converted into a B-25D-1 strafer version by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG), 71st Bombardment Squadron (71st BS). No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines R-2600-13 serial numbers 41-29197 and 41-28853. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns, makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On September 2, 1943 at 7:00am took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Richard P. Schumacher armed with two 1,000 pound bombs on a low level bombing and strafing mission (Strike 244-H) against Japanese shipping in Wewak Harbor off Wewak. The 405th Bombardment Squadron (405th BS) led by Captain Garrett Middlebrook was leading the mission followed by the 71st Bombardment Squadron (71st BS). The bombers flew north to Marilinan and circled for thirty minutes before rendezvousing with escorting P-38 Lightnings from 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) then proceeded up the Ramu Valley to Wewak. South of the Prince Alexander Range, the B-25s split into two plane elements for bombing and strafing runs. The weather had an undercast at 5,000' forcing them to fly low below the clouds as they approached. Over the target area, the 405th Bombardment Squadron (405th BS) approached Wewak from the south and descended to minimum altitude. Immediately, the formation was targeted by anti-aircraft fire from shore batteries and from Japanese vessels of the 7th Wewak Convoy inside Wewak Harbor. The larger ships had a barrage balloon roughly 10' in diameter tethered at 400' to deter low flying planes. Already airborne were thirty-six Japanese fighters misidentified as "Zeros" in fact, they were Type 1 Fighters / Ki-43 Oscars from 13th Hiko Sentai (13th Hiko Sentai), 24th Hiko Sentai (24th Flying Regiment), 59th Hiko Sentai (59th Flying Regiment) and Type 3 Fighter Hein / Ki-61 Tony from 68th Hiko Sentai (68th Flying Regiment). After the 405th Bombardment Squadron completed their runs, the 71st Bombardment Squadron began their runs and experienced heavy anti-aircraft fire and attacks by enemy fighters. This B-25 was part of the first flight, second element with Lt. Friend and strafed a "Sugar Charlie" (Japanese merchant vessel) at anchor being unloaded at a jetty off Wewak Point then released their bombs on a "Fox Able" anchored a few hundred yards further to the north. All the bombs missed, but were deemed to be near misses that damaged the vessel. This B-25 was intercepted by fighters during the attack and was last seen by seen with the right propeller feathered and losing altitude. A B-25 piloted by Major Howard Paquin's of the second flight pulled alongside to offer protection, but it continued to lose altitude and tried to pull up, but stalled, went over on its back and hit the water with great impact and reportedly crashed two to five miles offshore from Wewak Harbor. No survivors were seen to leave the aircraft. When this B-25 failed to return, it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost were B-25D 41-30255 (MIA), B-25D 41-30319 (MIA) and P-38H 42-66563 (MIA). Last seen by Major Howard Paquin, statement in Missing Air Crew Report 4508 (MACR 4508): "I did not see any of the crew emerge from the plane and do not believe there were any survivors. The high speed of my plane and turmoil of the water made it impossible to ascertain whether #247 sank immediately or not." 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. McCabe has a memorial marker at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Hammond, WI. Remillard has a memorial marker at Mount Olivet Cemetery Wheat Ridge in Jefferson County Colorado at Section 15, Block 1. References NARA - Richard P. Schumacher USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-10 Mitchell 41-30247 "30247 (38th BG) shot down 3 mi NW of Wewak, New Guinea Sep 2, 1943." Missing Air Crew Report 4508 (MACR 4508) "Although Missing Aircraft Reports were not required by this Air Force at the time subject officer became missing in action, it is desired that one be prepared and attached to this correspondence when it is returned in as much as the report is specifically requested by the Commanding General, Army Air Forces [Kenney]." 38th Bombardment Group Official History, page 165-175 (172) "All during the bombing and strafing run, the enemy fighters were pressing home thier attacks and the plane piloted by Lt. Schumacher was seen to turn upside down and then plunge into the water." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard P. Schumacher American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William A. Daniels American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert R. McCabe American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Owen C. Remillard American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alton W. Howard Jr. FindAGrave - 1Lt Richard Peter Schumacher (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt William Allen Daniels (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Robert R McCabe (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Owen C Remillard (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Owen C Remillard (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Alton W Howard, Jr (photo, tablets of the missing) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D Mitchell 41-30247 Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) pages 206-214 (September 2, 1943) Tuluvu's Air War, Chapter 5 by Richard Dunn "The 5th Air Force struck both Wewak and Tuluvu on September 2nd [1943]…. The 7th Wewak Convoy did not fare so well. American bombers sank two of the five transports. The air battle was more even. Seventeen B-25s and forty P-38s attacked Wewak where they encountered thirty-six fighters from 13th, 24th, 59th, and 68th FRs. Three B-25s and two P-38s went down. The Japanese lost four fighters with two pilots killed." Thanks to Richard Dunn and Edward Rogers 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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 B-25  MIA 5 Missing  Map Sept 2, 1943 |
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