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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 501st BS Former Assignments 500th BS  345th BG Sept 1943  345th BG c1943  345th BG c1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Robert K. Cavins, 501st BS (injured, survived) Radio Sgt Albert J. Mazerolle, 500th BS (survived) Passenger Captain Edward F. Egan (injured, survived) Passenger Sgt Russell E. Peters (injured, survived) Force Landed March 30, 1945 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8834. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-20 Mitchell serial number 41-30669. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Converted into a B-25D-1 strafer variant by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Wartime History On August 23, 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS) "Rough Raiders" as an early replacement aircraft. Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Ralph G. Wallace with crew chief was SSgt Allen R. Puckett. Nicknamed "Tondelayo" on both sides of the nose with the nose art of "Tondelayo" played by Hedy Lamarr in the Hollywood movie White Cargo (1942) in a reclining pose. This bomber had red rings around each engine cowling plus a white fuselage stripe. On the left side of the nose was a scoreboard with two rows of five Japanese rising sun flags indicating enemy aircraft claimed by gunners. The first was claimed on October 12, 1943. The other nine represent the claims on October 18, 1943, plus a ship silhouette claimed that same mission. The regular crew included 1st Lt. Ralph G. Wallace, co-pilot 2nd Lt. Edward J. Hick, engineer SSgt Weldon Isler, radio SSgt Burton E. Eaton and turret gunner SSgt John A. Murphy. This B-25 flew combat missions over New Guinea and New Britain. On September 27, 1943 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Ralph G. Wallace on a low level strike against Wewak. On October 12, 1943 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Ralph G. Wallace on a low level strike over Wewak and claimed one Zero [likely a Ki-43 Oscar]. On October 18, 1943 took off from Dobodura piloted by 1st Lt. Ralph G. Wallace on a low level bombing and strafing mission over Rabaul without fighter escort. The crew included pilot by 1st Lt. Ralph G. Wallace, co-pilot 2nd Lt. Edward J. Hicko, engineer SSgt Weldon Isler, radio TSgt Burton E. Eaton and turret gunner SSgt John A. Murphy. Inbound to the target, Japanese spotters observed the B-25 formation and in defense over a hundred Zeros took off to from Rabaul area airfields to intercept including A6M Zeros from the 201 Kōkūtai (201 Air Group), 204 Kōkūtai (204 Air Group) and 253 Kōkūtai (253 Air Group). The Zeros climbed to 5,000' and orbited St. Georges Channel and Blanche Bay expecting to dog fight with escorting fighters. When they realized the formation was only bombers, they dove to intercept as the B-25s began their attack runs. Over the target, this B-25 with B-25D "Sorry Satchul" 41-30056 and B-25D "SNAFU" 41-30054 attacked a 6,000 ton ship in Blanche Bay off Vunapope. While lining up on the target, this B-25 was hit by anti-aircraft fire in the right engine that caused a hole in the cowling and left an exposed engine piston. Immediately, the right engine was feathered and continued the bomb run while intercepted by three Japanese fighters as they released their bombs on the ship scoring near misses and claimed the vessel as badly damaged and probably sunk. In fact, the ship was not reported as sunk or damage by the Japanese. Intercepted by roughly fifty Japanese fighters in low level air combat that lasted seventy-five minutes. During the combat, co-pilot Hicko fired his pistol out the window until wounded. Zero gunfire caused further damage including a fuel leak that was wrapped with a rag and held in place as an emergency repair. During the engagement, both wingmen were shot down including B-25D "SNAFU" 41-30054 pilot Captain Lyle E. Anacker (ditched, MIA/KIA one rescued) and B-25D "Sorry Satchul" 41-30056 pilot 1st Lt. Harlan H. Peterson (MIA). Flying only 30' off the sea, four times, pilot Wallace would turn into any frontal attack and climb to fire their nose guns, then descend back to minimum altitude. Top turret gunner SSgt John Murphy claimed five Zeros shot down plus four that crashed into the sea when they misjudged their attacks until all ammunition was expended and the last Zero turned away. In fact, the 201 Kōkūtai, 204 Kōkūtai lost only two Zeros and claimed eleven B-25s shot down. Despite extensive damage, this bomber managed to land at Kiriwina Airfield and wounded Hicko was rushed to the hospital. The damage bomber had 41 holes and would require seven months of repairs to replace the engines, a wing and a propeller blades damaged by a bullet. For this mission, each of the crew earned the Silver Star and the 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS) received a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC). Afterwards, this B-25 was the most famous plane in the entire 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) and there was talk about using it on a war bond tour but was too damaged to fly back to the United States. By the middle of May 1944, after repairs returned the 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS) and continued flying combat missions. Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Frederick W. Dick and crew chief TSgt Walter W. Sabo and Puckett. On July 30, 1944 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Frederick W. Dick on a strike mission against Halmahera. On August 9, 1944 took off piloted by Bagshaw against Wasile Bay at the southern end of Celebes (Sulawesi). On September 16, 1944 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Frederick W. Dick on a low level strike against a Japanese supply base at Gorontalo on northern Celebes (Sulawesi). During late 1944, when the squadron was equipped with new B-25J Mitchells, this bomber was retired from flying combat missions. The bomber had the armament removed and the exterior was stripped to bare mental finish with the original nose art and markings removed. During November 1944, assigned to the 501st Bombardment Squadron (501st BS) "Black Panthers". Nicknamed "Chow Hound" with the Walt Disney cartoon dog Pluto holding in the mouth a picnic basket overflowing with food including links of sausage stretched out the side dragging on the ground, a dead chicken and a bottle of liquor walking on a street with a fire hydrant inside a cloud shape with a dark border edge the with the forward portion the nickname. The outer side of both the left and right tail had the Air Apaches motif of an Apaches indian wearing a headdress inside a circle with a border, the motif of the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) with "669" (the last three digits of the serial number) above in large digits with an outline. Assigned to crew chief TSgt Adolph K. Singerman. For the remainder of 1944 and early 1945 used s a "fat cat" hack by the entire 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) to fly from Biak to Australia to purchase fresh food and supplies. Mission History On March 30, 1945 took off from Biak piloted by 1st Lt. Robert K. Cavins on a "fat cat" non-combat flight transporting cargo and two passengers bound for San Marcelino on Luzon in the Philippines. The crew included: pilot 1st Lt. Robert K. Cavins, radio operator Sgt Albert J. Mazerolle, passenger Captain Edward F. Egan and passenger Sgt Russell E. Peters. Two hours into the flight, the aircraft encountered bad weather and was blown of course and had a radio malfunction. Out of fuel, this B-25 ditched off Catanduanes Island and skidded across the beach until it impacted a small hill on the island. Aboard, everyone aboard sustained injuries during the landing except for Mazerolle. During the landing, Peters was severely injured and was trapped inside the wreckage. The others used the plane's fire ax to cut a hole in the metal skin to free him and other trapped inside. Fates of the Crew The crew were found by Filipino guerrillas who took them to Tilod where they were fed and given medical treatment. Cavins stayed with severely injured Peters in Tilod. On March 31, 1945 Egan and Mazerolle were taken by canoe to a nearby town where they attended a parade and party and afterwards were taken by the guerrillas on a sailboat canoe bound for Leyte. While at sea, the sailboat was found by a U.S. Navy (USN) destroyer and resued. Meanwhile, Cavins and Peters remained at Tilod. After the other two were rescued, a Catalina was dispatched to rescue them both and flew them to San Marcelino Airfield. While landing, the nose wheel of the Catalina failed to extend and resulted in a force landing without injury to those aboard. Afterwards, another B-25D-20 Mitchell was selected as a fat cat and nicknamed "Chow Hound Junior" after the loss of this aircraft. Memorials B-25J Mitchell 44-28932 owned by the Collins Foundation is painted in the markings of this aircraft. Wallace remained in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and served in the Korean War. He retired with the rank of Major. On March 10, 1986 died at the age of 65. On March 14, 1986 he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 66 site 3418. Hicko died on September 7, 1994 at age 74. He is buried at Chapel Lawn Memorial Gardens in Schererville, IN. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Ralph G. Wallace NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward J. Hicko USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-20 Mitchell 41-30669 Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Ralph G. Wallace (grave photos) FindAGrave - Ralph Goodwin Wallace (grave photos) FindAGrave - Edward Julius Hicko Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 46 (Fat Cat missions), 55 (October 12, 1943), 66 (October 18, 1943 hit by AA attacks ship), 68-72 (October 18, 1943 epic of Tondelayo), 164 (photo Tondelayo), 188 (September 16, 1944), 189 (photo taken from Tondelayo), 194 (Caption for Painting), 195 (artwork "Ordeal of Tondelayo" by Jack Fellows), 207 (reference to Chow Hound), 218 (Profile 23), 243 (photos December 1944), 289 (March 30, 1945), 392 (500th BS, 41-30669), 400 (501st BS, 41-30669), 421 (Dick later assigned Tondelayo), 423 (Profile 23 description, June 1944 photo), 439 (index Chow Hound), 447 (index Tondelayo) Ordeal of Tondelayo by Jack Fellows depicts the October 18, 1943 mission Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 9, 2025 |
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