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| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 822nd BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Al L. Behrens (survived) Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. N. A. Weldon (survived) Navigator 2nd Lt. A. T. Hamilton (WIA) Radio SSgt W. H. Brown (survived) Gunner Sgt M. M. Lein (survived) Force Landed November 15, 1943 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 96-16727. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25G-5 Mitchell serial number 42-64848. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) "Sun Setters", 822nd Bombardment Squadron (822nd BS) "The Black Panthers". No known nose art or nickname. Call Sign 9IY7F. Also known as 848 for the last three digits of the serial number. Mission History On November 15, 1943 at 8:37am took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Al L. Behrens armed with four 500 pound bombs and 21 x 75mm cannon shells for a on a strike (Mission 318-G) bound for Wewak. This B-25 was flying in the last element in the no. 3 position. The formation included two squadrons of B-25G Mitchells from the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) plus all four squadrons from the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG). An escort by P-47D Thunderbolts were to escort the bombers but failed to rendezvous over Mount Yonkie. At roughly 10:00am while circling in the vicinity of Dumpu at 10,000', intercepted by fifteen Zeros [sic Ki-43 Oscars] that were intercepted by P-40N Warhawks from 35th FS. One of the P-40s accidently opens fire on this B-25 damaging n both engines and causing a loss of hydraulic pressure and d a large hole in the right wing to leak fuel and navigator 2nd Lt. A. T. Hamilton was injured. Meanwhile, at roughly 10:17, the bombing mission was aborted, since the element of surprise was lost. 1st Lt. Al L. Behrens wrote in his diary via One Flew From Moresby page 66-67: "I heard a terrific explosion in the navigator compartment and smelled odors of cordite and gasoline... I forgot to mention that we were hit from forward and below by machine gun slugs and two 20mm explosive shells [sic]. No one but my gunner saw the plane and he identified it as a P-40 or P-39. I don't know what it was. I never saw it." Damaged, 1st Lt. Behrens feathered both engines and slowly descended to land at Gusap Airfield but saw a Japanese air raid was underway with smoke and burning planes on the ground and instead continues to Nadzab Airfield. Injured Hamilton was put in the co-pilots seat to administer first aid. The landing gear only partially extended and would not pump down manually nor with the emergency system. Before landing, the flaps were manually cranked down and signaled with a red light to indicate they had wounded aboard then came around for a straight approach. While landing, the B-25 skidded sideways and came to rest sideways with both engines broken off, the nose broken and both engine nacelles ripped open and was leaking gas and oil at the side of Nadzab Airfield. After the crash, the damaged B-25 was written off as a total loss. Fates of the Crew On the ground, the crew all exited and ran away fearing the bomber might explode. Wounded navigator Hamilton was immediately taken to the hospital and the rest of the crew radioed their squadron and were able to catch a ride in a C-47 to Port Moresby. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25G-5 Mitchell 42-64848 1st Lt. Al L. Behrens Flight Log - November 15, 1943 via One Flew From Moresby (2011) page 66 "Nov 15 / Strike!! Wewak / Jumped by Zeros [sic P-40] hit with explosive shell no engine controls, no wheels - crash land / B-25G - total wreck" 38th BG Supplemental Final Mission Report 248th Hiko Sentai "Hard Luck" Fighter Unit, Part 2 by Richard Dunn "When offensive operations resumed on the 15th [November 1943] the 248th [Sentai] again sent out eighteen fighters and lost four pilots killed or missing and another wounded... The American fighters accidentally attacked a B-25, which later crash-landed at base in a badly damaged condition with casualties among the crew." One Flew From Moresby by Tom Behrens (2011) pages 66-67 (November 15, 1943 mission and flight log) Thanks to Tom Behrens, Richard Dunn and Edward Rogers for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated October 12, 2023 |
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