Pacific Wrecks

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

B-25D-10 Mitchell Serial Number 41-30320

USAAF
5th AF
3rd BG
90th BS

Pilot 1st Lt. Robert V. Lockhart, Jr. (KIA, BR) NC
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Robert H. Chapin (KIA, BR) IA
Crew 1st Lt Abraham Soffer, O-791005 (KIA, BR) New Haven County, CT
Crashed October 29, 1943 at 9:03am
MACR 15778

Aircraft History
Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8485. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-10 Mitchell serial number 41-30320. 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 in Townsville.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 90th Bombardment Squadron (90th BS). No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On October 29, 1943 at 9:03am took off from Dobodura Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Robert V. Lockhart, Jr. Immediately after take off, this B-25 experienced a double engine failure and made a force landing and exploded near Dobodura. The entire crew was killed in the explosion. The bomber burned for over an hour.

The exact cause of the accident is unknown, but possibly caused by the pilot trimming the bomber without feathering the engine that failed. When the faulty engine fired, the B-25 turned into a roll and crashed before the trim could be corrected. Previously, Lockhart flew a total of ninety-five missions including forty-nine combat missions and forty-five non-combat missions.

Recovery of Remains
After the crash, the remains of the crew were recovered and buried in New Guinea. Postwar, their remains were exhumed and transported to the United States and Philippines for permanent burial.

Memorials
Lockhart is buried at Eastview Cemetery in Wadesboro, NC.
Chapin is buried at East Lawn Cemetery in Sheldon, IA.
Soffer is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot N, row 15, grave 96.

References
Missing Air Crew Report 15778 (MACR 15778)
FindAGrave - Lieut Robert V Lockhart, Jr (grave photo) "Gave his life for his country in World War II in New Guinea South West Pacific Area on his ninety-fifth aerial mission."
FindAGrave - Robert Harry Chapin (grave photo)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Abraham Soffer
FindAGrave - 1LT Abraham Soffer (Manila American Cemetery grave)

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Last Updated
October 21, 2022

B-25

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