|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 823rd BS  38th BG 1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. John M. Wieland, O-734287 (MIA / KIA) Philadelphia, PA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Dale R. Wilson, O-738317 (MIA / KIA) Perry, IA Navigator 2nd Lt. John R. Stack, O-678086 (MIA / KIA) Grand Rapids, MI Radio SSgt Stanley W. Banko, 33565274 (MIA / KIA) Everson, PA Gunner SSgt Irvin E. Woollenweber, 35375029 (MIA / KIA) Wheeling, WV Gunner SSgt Willie T. Sharpton, 34269188 (MIA / KIA) Dacula, GA Crashed November 27, 1943 at 11:30am MACR 1177 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 96-16768. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25G-5 Mitchell serial number 42-64889. 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", 823rd Bombardment Squadron (823rd BS) "The Terrible Tigers". No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines R-2600-13 serial numbers, left 43-23850, right 43-23746. Weapon serial numbers noted in Missing Air Crew Report 1177 (MACR 1177). Mission History On November 27, 1943 took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. John M. Wieland on a strike mission against Wewak. The weather was good with unlimited visibility. Over the target, this B-25 was hit by anti-aircraft fire that damaged the left aileron and adjacent wing section and the left elevator and rudder were shot off. This B-25 was observed to crash into the sea at 11:30 am roughly 1.5 miles to the north of Cape Boram. Two witnesses in other planes in the formation said the plane hit hard, bounced up, and smashed down again. A third witness said the plane hit hard once but settled gently the second time. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Fates of the Crew The crew was listed as missing in action after the mission, and no other information was known. During April of 1944, short-wave operators heard Tokyo radio broadcast Sharpton's name and his parents' home address, and say he was a POW. Yet, he never appeared on any of the prisoner lists nor was there any other information about him. Memorials The entire crew were officially declared dead on January 15, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Wieland earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Wilson earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Violet Hill Cemetery in Perry, IA. Stack earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Banko earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Woollenweber earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Mount Zion Cemetery in Wheeling, WV. Sharpton earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Harmony Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery in Auburn, GA. Relatives Joy Neal Kidney (niece of Dale R. Wilson) "Usually, S/Sgt. Joseph E. Sidebottom flew as gunner. Sidebottom was not on the November 27 mission. He was replaced with Ted Sharpton for his first (and last) combat mission. My grandmother wrote and sent Christmas cards to Ted Sharpton's mother until they died in the 1980s, both in their nineties. His family still isn't sure if he was fished out of the Pacific, held and killed, or if he died in the crash and the Japanese somehow found his body and dog tags." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John M. Wieland NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Dale R. Wilson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John R. Stack NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Stanley W. Banko NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Willie T. Sharpton USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25G-5 Mitchell 42-64889 "64889 (38th BG, 823rd BS) shot down by AAA and crashed into sea off" "64889 (38th BG) lost Nov 27, 1943, New Guinea." NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File does not list any of the crew as official Prisoners Of War (POWs) of the Japanese but this was not uncommon for airmen captured in forward areas. Missing Air Crew Report 1177 (MACR 1177) created November 28, 1943 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25G Mitchell 42-64889 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John M. Wieland American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Dale R. Wilson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John R. Stack American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Stanley W. Banko American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Irvin E. Woollenweber American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Willie T. Sharpton FindAGrave - 1Lt John M Wieland (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2Lt Dale R Wilson (photo, obituary, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Dale Ross Wilson (photo, obituary, memorial marker) FindAGrave - 2Lt John R Stack (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Stanley W Banko (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Irvin E Woollenweber (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Irvin E. Woollenweber (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Willie Ted Sharpton (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Willie Ted Sharpton (photo, memorial marker photo) Thanks to Joy Neal Kidney 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
|
 B-25  Map Nov 27, 1943  View on Google Earth  MIA 6 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
