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| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 71st BS  One Minute in Hell by Steve Fergusson |
Pilot 1st Lt. Walter J. Oldham 822nd BS (MIA / KIA) Cleveland, OH Co-Pilot 1Lt. Jerry C. Kustich Jr., O-675081 822nd BS (MIA / KIA) Erie County, NY Navigator 1st Lt. Norman O. Spencer 822nd BS (MIA / KIA) Summit County, OH Radio Cpl SGT Melvin D. Vinson Jr., 14156317 822nd BS (MIA / KIA) MS Gunner MSGT John P. Prentiss, 20245279 822nd BS (MIA / KIA) Morris County, NJ Crashed June 22, 1944 MACR none 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 41-30248. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Modified into a strafer variant by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Wartime History On June 24, 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) "Sun Setters", 71st Bombardment Squadron (71st BS) "The Wolf Pack". No known nickname or nose art. Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. John E. Orr with crew chief Dowis. The bomber had the wolf pack motif on the nose. The tips of the tails had a yellow horizontal stripe. On November 2, 1943 took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. John E. Orr as one of nine from 71st BS on a flight to Dobodura Airfield then took off again on a low level strike against Japanese warships and transports in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. After take off, one B-25 aborted due to engine trouble. This B-25 was flying on the wing of B-25D "Sleepy Time Gal" 41-30190 pilot by 1st Lt. James A. Hungerpiller. 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 "Sleepy Time Gal" 41-30190 began their attack flying southward over Simpson Harbor. During the attack, anti-aircraft fire was intense and hit B-25D "Sleepy Time Gal" 41-30190 in the left engine causing it to catch fire and observed it to crash on the western edge of Simpson Harbor. Afterwards, the mission was dubbed "Bloody Tuesday". Later, assigned to pilot Lavers with crew chief Snarski. Mission History On June 22, 1944 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Walter J. Oldham with a crew from 822nd BS on a mission to strike Japanese vessels in Sale Straits. Over the target, attacked by Ki-43 Oscars including two that pressed their attacks all thw way in. This B-25 was shot down near Salawati Island off the western tip of New Guinea roughly 4 miles from Waipolea. Recovery of Remains Postwar, the remains of the crew were recovered and transported to the United States for permenant burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. During June 1950 all were buried in a group burial at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery at section E sites 262-263. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Walter J. Oldham NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Jerry C. Kustich Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Norman O. Spencer NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Melvin D. Vinson Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John P. Prentiss USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-10 Mitchell 41-30248 FindAGrave - 1LT Walter J Oldham (group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Jerry C Kustich Jr. (photo, group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Norman O Spencer (group burial photo) he Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN) "Young Brother gets Medal of Dead Hero: Sgt Vinson Lost Life on 21st Birthday" November 9, 1945 page 9 FindAGrave - SGT Melvin D Vinson Jr. (obituary, group burial photo) FindAGrave - MSGT John Pershing Prentiss (group burial photo) Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) pages 235-242 (November 2, 1943), 360 (June 22, 1944), AII-9 (June 22, 1944, 41-30248), AIII-7 (71st BS, 41-30248) One Minute in Hell by Steve Ferguson depicts this B-25 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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