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| USAAF 13th AF 42nd BG 75th BS   42nd BG Dec 17, 1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Robert A. Meister, O-724963 (MIA / KIA) OH Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Floyd A. Everett, Jr. (rescued) Engineer SSgt Robert K. Cole (rescued) Gunner TSgt Carl J. Manhart (rescued) Dubois, ID Gunner SSgt Charles J. Hughey, 20430742 (MIA / KIA) GA Crashed December 17, 1943 at 11:02 MACR 1416 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 8826. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-20 Mitchell serial number 41-30661. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SOPAC). Flown to Garbutt Field in Townsville and converted into a B-25D-1 strafer at the 4th Air Depot (4th AD). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 42nd Bombardment Group (42nd BG) "The Crusaders", 75th Bombardment Squadron (75th BS). No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines R-2600-13 serial numbers 1) 42-77243 2) 42-77159. Armed with 12 x 50 caliber machine guns and 2 x 30 caliber machine guns. Mission History On December 17, 1943 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Robert A. Meister as one of eighteen B-25s that on a bombing mission against Maleai (Maliai) near Shortland Island. When departing from the target, this bomber was hit in the left nacelle by anti-aircraft fire and was leaking oil and was unable to feather the propeller. Descending under control in preparation for ditching, the bomber went into a spin from 100' and crashed into the sea one mile west of Baga Island. The three survivors deployed their raft and searched for the other two who were missing. Rescue The three survivors were rescued by PT Boat within an hour of the crash, and continued to search for the two missing men for another thirty minutes, without results. Memorials Meister and Hughey were officially declared dead the day of the crash. Both are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. Both earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Hughey also has a memorial marker at Shawmut Cemetery in Valley, AL at Old Section, lot 31. He has another memorial marker at Hillview East Cemetery in LaGrange, GA. Manhart passed away on July 3, 2012. He was buried at Desert Memorial Park in Ridgecrest, CA. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-20 Mitchell 41-30661 "30661 (42nd BG, 75th BS) damaged by AAA and ditched 1 mi W of Baga" Missing Air Crew Report 1416 (MACR 1416) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert A. Meister American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles J. Hughey FindAGrave - 1Lt Robert A Meister (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Charles J Hughey (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSGT Charles J Hughey (photo, Shawmut Cemetery memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Charles J Hughey (Hillview East Cemetery memorial marker) FindAGrave - Charles J. Hughey (photo, memorial monument photo) FindAGrave - Carl J. Manhart (obituary, Desert Memorial Park grave) 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  Map Dec 17, 1943  MIA 2 Missing |
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