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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 500th BS Former Assignments 3rd BG 13th BS  USAAF 1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Roland F. Myers, O-663765 (MIA / KIA) Florence, KS Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. William J. Kapitzke, O-764331 (MIA / KIA) Meriden, CT Bombardier-Navigator 1st Lt. James N. Quinn, O-664815 (MIA / KIA) WI Engineer-Gunner SSgt Manuel J. Garza, 18105315 (MIA / KIA) Brownsville, TX Engineer-Gunner SSgt Elmer L. Barlow, 36444357 (MIA / KIA) Peoria, IL Armorer-Gunner Sgt Joseph Mele, 13087947 (MIA / KIA) Arnold, PA Crashed August 1, 1944 at 10:24am MACR 8552 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8537. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-15 Mitchell serial number 41-30372. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia and modified into a B-25D-1 strafer variant at 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 13th Bombardment Squadron (13th BS). Assigned to Captain Ted G. Fitch who nicknamed it "Fitch's Bitch" in white block letters with red outline. The nose had a stylized skull face in black with red eyes, nose and mouth with the barrels of the nose machine guns in the mouth and cheeks outlined by a white line. The lower gray was extended with a wave effect instead of the factory straight line between the lower gray and upper olive drab. Below the pilot's window was "P Capt. T. G. Fitch" and below "AE TSgt J. G. Westbrook". On January 11, 1944 assigned to the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS) "Rough Raiders" and retained the nicknamed "Fitch's Bitch". Assigned to pilot Captain Hobart R. Rankin with crew chief Bennett. When lost, engines R-2600-13 serial numbers 41-30742 (left) and 41-28157 (right). Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers 113835, 113862, 362488, 113854, 113599, 113650, 113862, 135522, 66391, 66483, 71368 and 525053. Mission History On August 1, 1944 at 9:30am took off from Mokmer Drome on Biak piloted by 1st Lt. Roland F. Myers as one of six B-25s on a low level bombing and strafing mission against Ceram Island (Seram). The weather was reported as good with visibility of 20 miles. After the formation assembled, it proceeded to a point on the east coast of western New Guinea near Cape Sassoi at 4,000'. Fifty minutes into the mission, this B-25 developed engine trouble, pulled out of formation and aborted the mission. Last seen by Captain Max H. Mortensen south of Moemi near the southern tip of Rumberpon Island (Pulau Rumberpon) with the left engine smoking slightly with a thin trail of smoke descending slightly heading towards Biak and appeared to be under control. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search An extensive searches were flown for the B-25 and the crew with nil results. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead February 6, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Myers earned the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Kapitzke earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Quinn earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. Garza earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Barlow earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Mele earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Roland F. Myers NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records -William J. Kapitzke NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James N. Quinn NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Manuel J. Garza NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Elmer L. Barlow USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-15 Mitchell 41-30372 Missing Air Crew Report 8552 (MACR 8552) created August 2, 1944 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Roland F. Myers American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William J. Kapitzke American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James N. Quinn American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Manuel J. Garza American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Elmer L. Barlow American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph Mele FindAGrave - 1LT Roland F Myers (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2LT William J. Kapitzke (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - James N. Quinn (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Manuel J. Garza (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Elmer L Barlow (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Joseph Mele (tablets of the missing) Warpath Across the Pacific (1996) pages 169 (map), 176 (August 1, 1944), 371 (August 1, 1944, 41-30372), 393 (500th BS, 41-30372), 440 (index Fitch's Bitch) 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  Map Aug 1, 1944  MIA 6 Missing |
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