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| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 405th BS Former Assignments 71st BS 22nd BG 2nd BS  Bill Thompson 1980  Richard Leahy 1980  David Paulley 1982  Justin Taylan 2000   Justin Taylan 2003 |
Pilot Captain Robert J. Henderson, O-660752 (survived) Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Chester H. Swenson, O-738287 (survived) Ramsey County, MN Navigator 1st Lt. Norwood L. Johnson, O-434570 (WIA, died) Lincoln County, MN Crew T/Sgt James Kannette, 34304121 (WIA) Crew S/Sgt Sam A. Mazzara, 16093878 (survived) Crashed February 29, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8758. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-20 Mitchell serial number 41-30593. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History This B-25 was assigned to pilot 2nd Lt. Robert W. Schalkle and his crew nickname the bomber "Bar-Fly" in yellow lettering with the nose art of a fly with brown arms and green and yellow highlights. The artwork was painted at Greenville, North Carolina by one of the ground crew for $5.00. The crew decided on this name in honor of all the partying they did while in training. Ferried overseas by pilot 2nd Lt. Robert W. Schalkle with Duvall, McGourty, Hellstrom, Davis and Maddox across the Pacific via Hawaii arriving at Garbutt Field near Townsville during July 1943. Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 22nd Bombardment Group, 2nd Bombardment Squadron. During August 1943, this bomber was modified by the 4th Air Depot at Townsville into a B-25 strafer. Afterwards, assigned to the 38th Bombardment Group, 71st Bombardment Squadron and was flown northward to Port Moresby, first appearing in their records on September 8, 1943. This B-25 was flown on combat missions until November 22, 1943. The regular pilot was Lt. Clanton with crew chief Sgt Duffie. It is unclear what its assignment was from December 1943 to January 1944. It may have been undergoing repairs, or it even could have been temporarily with another squadron. On February 3, 1944 assigned to the 405th Bombardment Squadron (405th BS). The nose was painted with the "The Wolf Pack" motif. Mission History On February 29, 1944 took off from Dubodura piloted by Captain Robert J. Henderson on a night mission and crashed after take off. The navigator, 1st Lt. Norwood L. Johnson suffered a severe head injury and died several hours later. Afterwards, this B-25 was written off and abandoned at Dubodura. Wreckage Until the 1970s, this composite airframe was abandoned in the kunai grass near Horanda Y. This B-25 was recovered and transported to Girua Airfield near Popondetta for display by the Oro Province Works Department, for display as a war memorial at the airport. The greenhouse nose section of B-25D "Bar Fly" 42-30593 was attached in front of the cockpit to B-25H 43-4450 to make an externally complete aircraft for display. Traces of the US Star and Bar are present on the fuselage, and traces of its nose art are still visible. The two engines P-47 Thunderbolt engines, also recovered from Girua area are displayed in front of the Mitchell. For display purposes, the left landing gear (from a B-24) is bolted onto left wing. Memorials Johnson was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Postwar, he was buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at section C-25 site 14204. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Chester H. Swenson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Norwood L Johnson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James Kannette NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Sam A. Mazzara USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-20 Mitchell 41-30593 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25C Mitchell 41-30593 FindAGrave - Norwood L Johnson (grave photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated May 6, 2025
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