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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 13th AF 42th BG 69th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Eugene R. Brogan, O-664510 (MIA / KIA) MI Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Melvin R. Van Dyke, O-732597 (MIA / KIA) CA Navigator 1st Lt. Hugh D. McNeil, O-731173 (MIA / KIA) DC Engineer SSgt Leo E. Hamilton, 36055197 (MIA / KIA) IL Radio SSgt William Pierce, 19081433 (MIA / KIA) CA Gunner Sgt Frank Spognardi, 31137933 (MIA / KIA) MA Photographer 1st Lt. Harold C. Moran, O-922782 13th AAFCCU (MIA / KIA) Santa Monica, CA MIA June 22, 1943 at 9:20am MACR 16529 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 90-11891. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25C-5 Mitchell Serial Number 42-53404. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 42nd Bombardment Group (42nd BG), 69th Bombardment Squadron (69th BS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines R-2606-13 serial number 42-119630 and 42-119615. Weapon serial numbers unknown. Mission History On June 22, 1943 took off from Carney Field on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt. Eugene R. Brogan on a bombing mission against Rendova Island. Aboard was photographer 1st Lt. Harold G. Moran from the 13th Army Air Force Combat Camera Unit (13th AAFCCU). Weather was bad with rain squalls and storms. Off Rendova Island, the formation was flying in close formation at 5,000' - 6,000' when it entered a solid overcast. Inside the overcast, instrument flying was necessary and the formation climbed to 8,500' to clear the clouds. As the formation exited, this bomber was missing from formation. When this B-25 failed to return from the mission the entire crew was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). As no enemy action was involved and the B-25 was last observed under control, it was deemed possible this bomber might have made a safe landing. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 7, 1946. Two of th crew are memorialized on the courts of the missing at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). Brogan and Moran on court 7. Brogan also has a memorial marker at Mount Hope Cemetery in Lansing, MI. Five of the crew are memorialized on the courts of the missing at Manila American Cemetery including Van Dyke, McNeil, Hamilton, Pierce and Spognardi. Hamilton also has a memorial marker at New Robinson Cemetery in Robinson, IL. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Leo E. Hamilton USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25C-5 Mitchell 42-53404 "53404 (42nd BG (Medium) crashed Jun 22, 1943 on mission to Rendova Island. No survivors, no remains ever found." Missing Air Crew Report 16529 (MACR 16529) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Eugene R. Brogan American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Melvin R. Van Dyke American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Hugh D. McNeil American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leo E. Hamilton American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William Pierce American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank Spognardi American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold C. Moran FindAGrave - 1Lt Eugene R Brogan (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Eugene R. Brogan (memorial marker photos) FindAGrave - 1Lt Melvin R Van Dyke (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Hugh D McNeil (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Leo E Hamilton (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Leo E. Hamilton (memorial marker photo date of death listed as June 23, 1943, sic June 22, 1943) FindAGrave - SSgt William Pierce (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Frank Spognardi (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Lieut Harold Chadwick Moran, Jr (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Harold C Moran (courts of the missing photo) 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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