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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 500th BS Former Assignments 3rd BG 90th BS  Davidsmeyer c1943   3rd BG November 2, 1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt William T. Kyser, O-415376 (MIA / KIA) Minter, AL Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Richard E. Whitman, O-735717 (MIA / KIA) Reading, PA Bomb 1st Lt Homer A. Stine, O-662312 (MIA / KIA) Wetzel County, WV Engineer S/Sgt Charles S. Sebastian, 16077959 (MIA / KIA) IL Radio S/Sgt Marshall T. Marks, 36207466 (MIA / KIA) WI Gunner Sgt Sam G. Vojnovich, 13155497 (MIA / KIA) Beaver County, PA MIA December 26, 1943 at 2:42pm MACR 1847 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8550. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-10 Mitchell serial number 41-30279. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 90th Bombardment Squadron (90th BS). Nicknamed "Here's Howe" with a shark nose motif on the nose. On November 2, 1943 flew a low level strike against Rabaul and was photographed departing the target. During late November 1943, converted into a B-25D-1 strafer by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. On November 30, 1943 transfered to the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG), 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS). When lost, engines R-2600-13 serial numbers: left 41-29341 and right 41-29309. Mission History On December 26, 1943 took off from Dobodura Airfield on a low level attack on Cape Gloucester. Weather was 1,000' ceiling and visibility 3 miles. Over the target, this B-25 was fired on by U.S. Navy (USN) anti-aircraft gunners as it flew over landing craft, whose crews mistook it for an enemy plane, because Japanese aircraft were attacking the area at the same time. Hit, this bomber flipped over and crashed in flames into Borgen Bay, a mile offshore from Silimati Point at 2:42pm. The entire crew was killed in the crash. The shoot down and crash were recorded on film by an observer in one of the landing craft. 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. Kyser earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Whitman earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Stine earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Sebastian earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. Marks earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Pleasant View Methodist Church Cemetery in Belmont, WI. Vojnovich earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard E. Whitman NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Homer A. Stine NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Charles S. Sebastian serial listed as 16077957 [sic 16077959] NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Marshall T. Marks NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Sam Vojnovich USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-10 Mitchell 41-30279 "30279 converted to D-1 strafer with 3rd BG, 90th BS, then to 345th BG, 500th BS, 'Here's Howe'. Shot down by friendly AA fire from ships NW of Silimati Point, New Britain Dec 26, 1943. MACR 1847. 6 KIA." Missing Air Crew Report 1847 (MACR 1847) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D-1 Mitchell 41-30279 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William T. Kyser American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard E. Whitman American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Homer A. Stine American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles S. Sebastian American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Marshall T. Marks American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Sam Vojnovich FindAGrave - William T. Kyser (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2Lt Richard E Whitman (tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - Homer A. Stine (photos, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Charles S. Sebastian (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Marshall Thomas Marks (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Marshall Thomas Marks (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Sam G Vojnovich (tablets of the missing) Warpath Across The Pacific (19960 pages 105, 367, 393 Tuluvu's Air War Chapter IX by Richard Dunn 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  Photo Archive  MIA 6 Missing |
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