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| USAAF 5th AF 3rd BG 8th BS  Artwork Jack Fellows  5th AF Nov 2, 1943   Justin Taylan 2006 |
Pilot Major Raymond H. Wilkins, O-429531 C.O. 8th BS (MIA / KIA) Portsmouth, VA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Howard R. Bunce, O-800683 (MIA / KIA) CT Crew S/Sgt George H. Chamberlain, 32382962 (MIA / KIA) NY Crew T/Sgt Miles L. Rowe, 19010433 (MIA / KIA) ID Crashed November 2, 1943 MACR 1458 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8476. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-10 Mitchell serial number 41-30311. 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), 8th Bombardment Squadron (8th BS). Assigned to pilot Major Raymond H. Wilkins. Nicknamed "Fifi" after pilot Wilkin's Australian fiancée who was nicknamed Fifi. Tail letter "A" in white. Converted into a B-25D-1 strafer version with four nose guns inside the nose and four side gun packs. When lost, engines R-2600-13 serial numbers 41-29133 and 41-29420. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns serial numbers makers unknown: nose side gun serial numbers 171687, 456629, 362073 and 456412. Nose guns serial numbers 318521, 456563, 463131 and 115411. Top turret serial numbers 379818 and 313552. Waist gun serial numbers 21441 and 120860. Also aboard as Thompson submachine gun serial number 361433. Mission History On November 2, 1943 took off from Dobodura piloted by Major Raymond H. Wilkins on a low level strike against shipping in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. The weather was cumulus clouds 3/10 cover at 1,500' to 2,000' with unlimited visibility. Over the target, this B-25 bombed a destroyer and reportedly scored a direct hit. Then, bombed and strafed a Japanese merchant vessel. Wikins flew in the path of a Japanese cruiser and made a strafing run against it, to distracted the anti-aircraft gunners aboard. Hit by its intense anti-aircraft fire, the stabilizer and left wing outer wing were shot off, causing it to crash upside down into Simpson Harbor to the south of Lakunai Airfield and west of Matupi Island. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Missing Air Crew Report 1458 (MACR 1458) includes the eyewitness testimony of another 8th BS pilot: "With no bombs left, Major Wilkins made a determined strafing run over the heavily armed vessel, trying to silence some of the guns, in order to protect his other planes. Immediately passing over the cruiser, his vertical stabilizer and rudder snapped off, followed by his left wing crumpling. The aircraft hit the water on its back and disintegrated. 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. Wilkins earned the Medal of Honor, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Olive Branch Cemetery in Portsmouth, VA, section F. Bunce earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at South Burying Ground in Kensington, CT. Chamberlain earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. Rowe earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. Relatives Kathleen Wilkins (niece of Raymond Wilkins) References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-10 Mitchell 41-30311 "30311 (3rd BG, 8th BS, "Fifi") shot down by AA while strafing a Japanese heavy cruiser at Simpson Harbor, Rabaul, New Gunea Nov 2, 1943, SW Pacific. MACR 2527, 14581. 4 KIA. Pilot Maj. Raymond H. Wilkins posthumously awarded Medal of Honor" Missing Air Crew Report 1458 (MACR 1458) created November 3, 1943 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D-1 Mitchell 41-30311 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Raymond H. Wilkins FindAGrave - Raymond H. Wilkins (tablets of the missing, photo) FindAGrave - Capt Raymond Harrell Wilkins (memorial marker) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Howard R. Bunce FindAGrave - 2LT Howard R Bunce (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Howard R Bunce (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George H. Chamberlain FindAGrave - SSgt George H Chamberlain (tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Miles L. Rowe FindAGrave - TSgt Miles L Rowe (tablets of the missing photo) Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) page 88 Thanks to 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 4 Missing  Map November 2, 1943  Medal of Honor Citation |
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