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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 498th BS |
Pilot Lt. Col. Clinton U. True (WIA, survived) Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Cicero J. Ellen (WIA) Navigator Captain Joseph P. Mooney (WIA) Engineer S/Sgt Harry E. Snyder (WIA) Radio T/Sgt Stewart O. Stevens (survived) Ditched December 26, 1943 at 2:42pm MACR 1847 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8682. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-15 Mitchell serial number 41-30517. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History On August 10, 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG), 498th Bombardment Squadron (498th BS). Modified to a D-1 strafer at Garbutt Field at Townsville. Assigned to Crabb. nicknamed "Crabb 2nd". Later assigned and flown by True. Crew chief Russell. Mission History On December 26, 1943 took off piloted by Lt. Col. Clinton U. True on a low level strike against Cape Gloucester, this B-25 was part of the second flight, an was mistaken for an enemy plane as Japanese aircraft were atacking the area and was fired on by U.S. Navy anti-aircraft gunners as it over flew landing craft during the invasion. This B-25 was hit in the right engine and bomb bay and caught on fire. Damaged, the right engine was feathered and the bomber flew away from the formation, loosing altitude before ditching into Borgen Bay roughly six miles from Silimati Point. Fates of the Crew All the crew suffered wounds in the ditching, but managed to deploy their life raft and paddled to keep from being swept out to sea. Despite firing several flares, they were not seen by the U.S. Navy vessels that withdrew at night. Alone in the dark, the crew opted to risk going ashore at night to try to link up with U.S. Marines, as several of the crew needed medical help. On December 27, 193 around 2:00am they met sentries and got help. The next morning, they the crew were evacuated aboard a Landing Ship Tank (LST) and five days later landed at Buna and rejoined the squadron. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-15 Mitchell 41-30517 "30517 converted to D-1 strafer (345th BG, 498th BS, "Crabb 2nd"). Hit by friendly AA fire from ships and ditched into Borgen Bay 6 mi off Silimati Point, New Britain Dec 26, 1943. Crew paddled ashore and returned." Missing Air Crew Report 1847 (MACR 1847) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D Mitchell 41-30517 Warpath Across The Pacific pages 51, 105-106, 214, 382 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 November 22, 2025 |
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