Aircraft History
Built by North American in Inglewood, California. Delivered to the U. S. Army. Ferried overseas to the South Pacific.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 13th Air Force, 42nd Bombardment Group, 75th Bombardment Squadron. No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines R-2600-13 serial numbers 42-273676 and 42-271143.

Mission History
On October 12, 1943 one of two B-25s that took off from Espirito Santo to lead a flight of ten P-39 Airacobras bound for Carney Field on Guadalcanal.

When the formation reached San CristobaI, they were forced down to 1,000' due to low scattered clouds. About twenty miles off the tip of Guadalcanal the formation ran into a solid front, and made a 180 degree turn and climbed. This bomber disappeared into a cloud along with the Airacobras. Radio conversation was heard between the Airacobras and the B-25, but it failed to arrive and was never seen again.

Search
A PBY Catalina searched the general vicinity of south-western Guadalcanal to Russell with negative results. Searches continued the following day to San CristobaI and produced negative results. PBY Catalinas searched until October 16th for this bomber.

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized on the tablets of the mising at Manila American Cemetery.

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Last Updated
February 4, 2018