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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 500th BS Former Assignments 3rd BG 498th BS  345th BG 1944 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Lloyd B. Bardwell, Jr., O-761500 (MIA / KIA) Clark County, AR Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Millard W. Israel, O-706061 (MIA / KIA) Stone County, MS Navigator 2nd Lt. Robert C. Feuerstein, O-738545 (MIA / KIA) Tacoma, WA Engineer Cpl Wyman D. La Rose, 32490740 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Radio Pfc Calvin D. Simansky, 39556139 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA Gunner SSgt Lacy B. Hall, Jr., 34316566 (MIA / KIA) Alamance County, NC Ditched September 2, 1944 MACR 8636 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8757. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-20 Mitchell serial number 41-30592. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History During 1943, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG). On November 26, 1943 assigned to the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS) "Rough Raiders". Nicknamed "Mexican Spitfire" with the nose art of a Mexican woman wearing a skirt and bow in her hair with a pair of maracas on the left side of the nose. Below the cockpit was a scoreboard of bomb markings indicating missions flown. The tail had the squadron's mustang motif was painted on the tail. Regular pilots included Bruce and Landon. Crew chiefs H. D. Smith and Pratt. On February 15, 1944 took off from Dobodura Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Francis P. Doman with co-pilot 2nd Lt. Joseph A. Gautreau on a low level strike against Kavieng. Over the target, the formation experienced heavy anti-aircraft fire. After dropping their bombs and flying through heavy smoke this bomber sustained damage to the leading edge of the right wing by a fuel drum that exploded and was thrown into the air. The pilots managed to keep the plane airborne, jettisoned their three remaining bombs and returned alone and made an emergency landing at Finschafen Airfield. On April 8, 1944 assigned to the 498th Bombardment Squadron (498th BS) "Falcons", but six days returned to the 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS). Mission History On September 2, 1944 took off from Mokmer Drome on Biak piloted by 2nd Lt. Lloyd B. Bardwell, Jr. on a mission against Langoan Airfield on Celebes (Sulawesi). When fighter escort did not rendezvous with the formation, they diverted to the secondary target of enemy installations along Lembeh Strait. Arriving the target, the formation spit up with six B-25 striking Lembeh and Minelayer Itsukushima anchored at the southwest entrance that returns anti-aircraft fire. Over the target, this B-25 was hit by anti-aircraft fire from Itsukushima and ditched roughly 7 miles to the northeast of Lembeh Island (Lahben) into Lahbeh Strait. On impact, the nose submerging then breaking the surface and cause the tail and right wing to break off. Meanwhile, B-25D "Hell's Fire" 41-30278 saw them ditch and circled the downed plane to provide top cover. Meanwhile, three Zeros arrived and two attacked the circling bomber and the third dove to strafe the downed crew and made only one pass before other B-25s arrived and fired at the attacker causing it break off the attack. Five minutes after ditching, the B-25 sank. All five crew were observed in the water but their raft seemed damaged and only partially inflated. The circiling B-25s dropped supplies including a life raft and radio and remained overhead until short on fuel departed. Afterwards, no trace of the crew was ever seen again. All five remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials La Rose, Hall, Feuerstein, Simansky and Israel were officially declared dead on March 18, 1946. Bardwell was officially declared dead on July 18, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Bardwell earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Israel earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Feuerstein earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. La Rose earned the Soldier's Medal, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Simansky earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Hall earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Pine Hill Cemetery in Burlington, NC at Military Row 11. Relatives Anna Walker (sister of Bardwell) " My brother, L.B. Jr. Shot down September 2, 1944 by Japanese ship. Crash landed on water very near Celebes Islands. Survivors seen in water. Life raft damaged. Never seen again. He was 24 years old." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Joseph A. Gautreau NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Millard W. Israel NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert C. Feuerstein NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Calvin D. Simansky NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Lacy B. Hall Jr. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-20 Mitchell 41-30592 "30592 (345th BG) lost Sep 2, 1944, SW Pacific. MACR 8636" Missing Air Crew Report 8636 (MACR 8636) created September 4, 1944 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lloyd B. Bardwell Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Millard W. Israel American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert C. Feuerstein American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wyman D. La Rose American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Calvin D. Simansky American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lacy B. Hall Jr. FindAGrave - 2Lt Lloyd B Bardwell, Jr (photo, memorial marker photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Millard William Israel (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1Lt Robert C Feuerstein (news, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Corp Wyman D La Rose (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - PFC Calvin D Simansky (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Lacy B Hall, Jr (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Lacy B Hall, Jr (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Lacy Bryant "June" Hall, Jr (photo, memorial marker photo) Warpath Across The Pacific The Illustrated History of the 345th Bombardment Group During World War II (1996) pages 123-124 (February 15, 1944), 169 (map), 183-184 (September 2, 1944 photo), 371 (September 2, 1944 crew), 382 (41-30592, 498th BS), 392 (41-30592, 500th BS), 444 (index Mexican Spitfire) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? 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 B-25  Photo Archive  Map Sept 2, 1944  MIA 6 Missing |
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