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| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 823rd BS  38th BG 1943  38th BG Jan 8 1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt Leo B. Braun, O-796771 (MIA / KIA) Lastrup, MN Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Robert C. Bloxam, O-748329 (MIA / KIA) Ramsey County, MN Navigator 2nd Lt. Donald S. Hockensmith, O-673169 (MIA / KIA) Marshall County, KS Radio SSgt Walter E. Strauser, 33234176 (MIA / KIA) Trevorton, PA Engineer SSgt Edward L. Sayers, 39240936 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA Gunner SSgt Jacob L. Wanamaker, 34247495 (MIA / KIA) Savannah, GA MIA January 8, 1944 MACR 16398 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 96-16645. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25C-25 Mitchell Serial Number 42-64766. Ferried oversea via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. This B-25 was retrofitted to the specifications of a B-25G-1 Mitchell armed with a 75mm nose cannon. Wartime History During October 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG), (38th BG) "Sun Setters", 823rd Bombardment Squadron (823rd BS) "The Terrible Tigers". This aircraft was known as "766" for the last three digits of the serial number. No known nickname or nose art. Assigned to regular pilot 1st Lt. Anderson Williams and co-pilot 1st Lt. Anderson Williams. Likely, the nose was painted with the 823rd Bombardment Squadron's tiger motif. On November 3, 1943 this B-25 flew its first combat mission on a sweep over Odrobeg village two and a half miles north of Alexishafen. Returning, the formation passed over Madang and Bil Bil. During the flight, the formation sustained anti-aircraft fire. Mission History On January 8, 1944 took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt Leo B. Braun armed with 300 pound bombs on a bombing mission against Uligan and Uligan Harbor. The B-25 formation rendezvoused over Gusap with escorting P-38 Lightnings. At 10:00am the B-25 formation dropped to low level and attacked in three plane formations with the 822nd Bombardment Squadron attacking first. Next, the 823rd Bomb Squadron attacked. Before reaching the target, this B-25 was hit by large caliber anti-aircraft fire in the right engine causing it to catch fire. Both pilots struggled to maintain control of the bomber and continue the bombing run. Fifteen minutes later, the B-25 was engulfed in flames, the pilots deliberately pointed the damaged B-25 at a Japanese anti-aircraft gun position at the southern end of Uligan. This B-25 was observed to fire several cannon rounds at the target before crashing into the ground. On impact, the bomber slid through the area causing extensive damage. Another B-25 photographed a large column of black smoke rising from the southern end of Uligan Mission Township where this bomber crashed. The entire crew was killed in the crash and all were listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage This B-25 crashed on land into the northern end of Uligan Harbor. During 1946, a Royal Australian Air Force Searcher Team (RAAF Searcher Team) visited the crash site and confirmed the bomber's serial number. In 1996, a radial engine, presumably from this B-25 remained in situ among Japanese gun pits. During January 2015, a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) Investigation Team (IT) visited the crash site with National Museum and Art Gallery (NMAG) representative Augustine Wak. The team documented and photographed the radial engine at the crash site. Search On May 27, 1946 a RAAF Searcher Party led by S/L Keith Rundle visited Uligan Harbor and interviewed native people about aircraft losses in the area. The team located the wreckage of B-25D "Stickey Kitty" 42-87286 in shallow water and also claimed to have located this aircraft on the "norther side of Uligan Harbor". It is unclear if Rundle visited the wreckage of this aircraft or another crash site, possibly B-25G 42-64827. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Braun earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Braun also has a memorial marker at Saint Marys Cemetery in Melrose, MN at section E, row 1. He is also memorialized at Calvary Cemetery in Austin, MN on a memorial dedicated "To our boys who gave their lives that others might live". Bloxam earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Hockensmith earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Strauser earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Sayers earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Wanamaker earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert C. Bloxam NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Donald S. Hockensmith NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Walter E. Strauser NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward L. Sayers NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Jacob L. Wanamaker USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25C-25 Mitchell 42-64766 Missing Air Crew Report 16398 (MACR 16398) page 2 incorrectly lists aircraft as B-25D 42-87286 [another aircraft] page 23 lists the bomber as B-25 42-64766 correctly. Royal Australian Air Force Survey of Wreckage in Papua and New Guinea, B-25D 42-64766 number 312, page 9 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25 42-87286 (incorrect serial number, 42-64766) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leo B. Braun American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert C. Bloxam American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald S. Hockensmith American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Walter E. Strauser American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward L. Sayers American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jacob L. Wanamaker FindAGrave - 1Lt Leo Bernard “Lee” Braun (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Leo Bernard Braun (photo, memorial Saint Marys Cemetery) FindAGrave - 1LT Leo Bernard Braun (memorial Calvary Cemetery photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Leo Bernard “Lee” Braun (body lost at sea) FindAGrave - 2Lt Robert Craig Bloxam (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2Lt Donald S Hockensmith (photo, obituary, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Walter Earl Strauser (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Edward L Sayers (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Jacob Lewis Wanamaker (photo, tablets of the missing) Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) pages 265-267, AII-7 lists aircraft as B-25G 42-64766, AIII-30 lists aircraft as B-25G 42-64766 The Quest Vol. 1, No. 1 Summer 2015 page 2 (upper right) [page 4] "Lead investigator Andrew Speelhoffer and research analyst Anthony Hewitt, interview a landowner about an engine located on his property in Madang Province, Papua New Guinea, January 2014. With the help of a translator and National Museum representative, Augustine Wak, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency team interviewed witnesses that were children who had information about World War II crash sites. The investigation provided information which will be used in further research of the cases which will hopefully lead to identifications. (Photo by DPAA)" 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  Approx 4.40 145.35  MIA 6 Missing |
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