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| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 823rd BS Former Assignments 22nd BG 408th BS   Phil Bradley 1996  Dan Seymore 1999  J. Taylan May 21, 2024 |
Pilot 1st Lt. George J. Maturi (survived) NY Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Glenn O. Grendahl (survived) MN Navigator 1st Lt C. Brown (survived) Radio T/Sgt L. Jackson (survived) Gunner S/Sgt R. Winsor (survived) Force Landed April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday" at 4:45pm MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8692. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-15 Mitchell serial number 41-30527. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Modified into a B-25D-1 strafer variant at the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Wartime History During July 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), 408th Bombardment Squadron (408th BS). Nicknamed "Fer de Lance" in block letters with a white outline. On October 14, 1943 took off from Dobodura on its first bombing mission against supply dumps at Alexishafen. In total, this B-25 flew at least 37 bombing missions. In January 1944 assigned to the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) "Sun Setters", 823rd Bombardment Squadron (823rd BS) "The Terrible Tigers". The bomber retained the nicknamed "Fer de Lance". When lost, the bomber had a scoreboard with 25+15 bomb markings indicating 40 bombing missions. Mission History On April 16, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. George J. Maturi on a bombing mission against Hollandia. Returning, the formation encountered a severe weather front of bad weather. This B-25 ran low on fuel and decided to land at Yami Airfield (Saidor No. 2) to the west of Saidor. After circling the small emergency runway, the pilots landed. When the plane touched down, the wheels sunk into the dirt surfaced runway causing the nose landing gear to collapse and skidded across the runway on the belly until it came to a stop in tall kunai grass bordering the runway. None of the crew were seriously hurt in the crash landing. Afterwards, the mission was dubbed "Black Sunday". Fates of the Crew After the force landing crew remained at Yami Airfield overnight. On April 17, 1944 all five were flown to Nadzab Airfield. Wreckage After the crash, the nose section and engines were removed and the plane stripped for usable parts then abandoned. In the late 1990's, the nickname "Fer de Lance" and 25+15 bomb markings were still visible on the side of the nose. The B-25 remains in situ to this day. Memorials Maturi died June 3, 1944 in a jeep with Major Willmore I. Pavlich who had performed a sweep down the runway for obstacles and were killed when B-25D "Firin' Fanny" 41-30565 swerved off the runway on take off and collided with their jeep killing them both instantly. Maturi is buried at Long Island National Cemetery at section H site 9877. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George J. Maturi NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Glenn O. Grendahl USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-15 41-30527 "30527 (38th BG, 823rd BS, *Fer-de-Lance*) force landed at Yamai Apr 16, 1944 during infamous Black Sunday mission to Hollanida" FindAGrave - George J Maturi (grave photo) The News Tribune (Tacoma, Washington) "Obituary Glenn O. Grendahl" October 29, 1968 page 31 FindAGrave - Glenn O Grendahl (obituary, grave photo) Pacific Aircraft Wrecks (1979) page 79 (middle upper) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25C Mitchell 41-30527 Black Sunday (2000) page 98 Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 199, 201 (October 14, 1944), 505 (408th BS, 42-30527) Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) pages 251-252, 256, 327-331 (April 16, 1944), 331 (41-30527), 346-347, AII-9 (June 3, 1944, Maturi), AIII-31 (823rd BS, 41-30527), AV-22 (Maturi), AV-42 (Maturi), ix-9 (index Maturi), ix-5 (index Grendahl) 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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