|  |
|
| 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 71st TRG 17th TRS  USAAF 1943  Kreft December 29, 2013 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Earl D. Spriggs, Jr., O-735832 17th TRS (MIA / KIA, BR) Fairborn, OH Passenger Captain Edward F. Bradley, O-483769 17th TRS (MIA / KIA, BR) Washington, DC Passenger 1st Charles E. Poland, O-434933 82nd TRS (MIA / KIA, BR) Grand Junction, CO Passenger 1st Lt. Fletcher C. Abernathy, O-1016654 25th Liaison Squadron (MIA / KIA, BR) Aspen Hill, TN Passenger SSgt William F. Robertson III, 13113188 17th TRS (MIA / KIA, BR) South Ardmore, PA Passenger SSgt Paul M. Williams, 20758692 17th TRS (MIA / KIA, BR) Overland, Missouri Passenger SSgt Claude L. Green, 38024406 25th Liaison Squadron (MIA / KIA, BR) Fort Worth, TX Passenger SSgt Glyn F. Trammell, 38136769 25th Liaison Squadron (MIA / KIA, BR) Athens, TX Passenger Cpl Arthur F. D'Alessandro, 32888550 71st TRG, Headquarters (MIA / KIA, BR) Corona, NY Passenger 2nd Lt. Claude M. Loe, Jr., O-760340 475th FG, 431st FS (MIA / KIA, BR) Plainview, TX MIA July 28, 1944 MACR 7012 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Order Number AC-19341 funds F-1 at a cost of $181,074. Constructors Number 100-20640. On August 17, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-25 Mitchell serial number 42-87287. Afterwards, to the Kansas modification center. On October 31, 1943 at Savannah GA. On December 3, 1943 departs on a ferry flight bound for "Left" (New Guinea) via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to New Guinea. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (71st TRG), 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (17th TRS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines R-2600-19 serial number 43-37531 and R-2600-13 serial number 43-23472. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers 939314, 448251, 449168, 11626, 211394, 228038, 448958, 211760, 75470, 448635, 70822, 411815. Mission History On July 28, 1944 at 8:44am took off from Nadzab Airfield No. 3 piloted by 1st Lt. Earl D. Spriggs, Jr. on a courier flight bound for Mokmer Drome on Biak Island. Aboard were eight passengers from several different squadrons plus an unmanifested passenger 2nd Lt. Claude M. Loe, Jr. The weather was scattered clouds en route and rain showers. This B-25 was last seen after take off. When this aircraft failed to arrive it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Officially, the plane was written off October 2, 1944. Search On August 2, 1944 an Air Sea Rescue search mission led by 1st Lt. Byron K. Brown was flown by two PBY Catalinas and one B-25 that took off from Nadzab and searched the flight route to Hollandia without result. Also, L-5 Sentinels based at Wakde, Hollandia and Tadji searched unsuccessfully. Wreckage In fact, this B-25 crashed west of the Kisengam Gap, approximately 12 miles northwest of Nadzab. Recovery of Remains Postwar, American Graves Registration Service (AGRS), 5A Detachment based at Hollandia recovered remains with identification details for 1st Lt. Edward F. Leidenberg who was believed to be an unmanifested passenger aboard this plane. Afterwards, the recovered remains were transported to the AGRS Mausoleum at Fort William McKinley (Manila American Cemetery) and designated as unknowns (X-Files) X-4212B, X-4213-A, B, C, X-4214-A, B and stored in Hanger 810, Bay X, crypt 5893 and 5951 and stored in Hanger 810, Bay X in crypts 5893 and 5951. Later, redesignated 810-X-5893, 5961, 812-A-301, 812-E-1474, 1553 and 812-F-1687. The entire crew and passengers were identified primarily on circumstantial evidience based on the only individual identification made for passenger 1st Lt. Edward F. Leidenberg. The report to the anthropologist reveals that fragments of six remains were recovered to represent the other twn unidentified men aboard the plane. By January 1951, the remains were casketed and transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. As the flight was non-combat, none of the crew or passengers earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. On April 18, 1951 buried in a group burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 84 sites 42-44. The group burial in includes Spriggs, Bradley, Poland, Abernathy, Robertson, Williams, Green, Trammell, D'Alessandro and Loe. Spriggs also has a memorial marker at Enon Cemetery in Enon, OH. The epitaph reads "Lt. Earl D. Spriggs, Jr. Born Sept 7, 1919 Pilot of B-25 5th Air Force Missing In Action in New Guinea July 28, 1944" with a B-25 Mitchell. Abernathy also has a memorial marker at Maplewood Cemetery in Pulaski, TN. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Earl D. Spriggs, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward F. Bradley NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Fletcher C. Abernathy NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William F. Robertson III NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Paul M. Williams NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Claude L. Green NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Glyn F. Trammell NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Arthur F. DAlessandro sic, D'Alessandro NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Claude M. Loe, Jr. Individual Aircraft Record Card (IARC) - B-25D-25 Mitchell 42-87287 USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-25 Mitchell 42-87287 Missing Air Crew Report 7012 (MACR 7012) created August 2, 1944 (Page 7) incorrectly states unmanifested passenger was 1st Lt. Edward F. Leidenberg, O-760470 who went Missing In Action (MIA) as a passenger lost aboard a different plane. RAAF Casualty Card - Mitchell B-25D 42-87287 "The remains of Edward Leidenberg were recovered by 5A Det. AGRS." RAAF Survey of Aircraft Wreckage, Papua New Guinea page 9 "#319 | 06.26-146.38 | Nadzab Area | USAC Mitchell B-25D 42-87287 | Wreckage recovered" PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25 42-87287 Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Earl D. Spriggs, Jr. FindAGrave - Earl D Spriggs, Jr (photo, group burial photos) FindAGrave - Lieut Earl David Spriggs Jr. (memorial marker photo) Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Edward F. Bradley FindAGrave - Edward F Bradley (group burial photos) Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Charles E. Poland FindAGrave - Charles E Poland (photo, group burial photos) Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Fletcher C. Abernathy FindAGrave - Lieut Fletcher C. Abernathy (group burial photos) FindAGrave - Fletcher C. Abernathy (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - William F Robertson (group burial photos) Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Paul M. Williams FindAGrave - Paul M Williams (group burial photos) Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Claude L. Green FindAGrave - Claude L Green (group burial photos) Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Glyn F. Trammell FindAGrave - Sgt Glyn Francis Trammell (photo, group burial photos) Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Arthur F. D'Alessandro FindAGrave - Arthur F D'Alessandro (group burial photos) Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Claude M. Loe, Jr. The Los Angeles Times "Sixty-three Win Commissions in Air Force" December 11, 1943 page 11 Ventura County Star "In The Fight Against The Axis - Lt. Claude Loe Wins Air Medal" October 25, 1944 page 1 Oxnard Press-Courier "Gold Star Mothers Attend LA Meeting" May 3, 1946 page 3 Oxnard Press-Courier "Gen. Spaatz Praises Pilot Declared Dead" July 13, 1946 page 3 "Lt. Loe has been declared dead after having been missing in action in the Pacific since July 28, 1944." FindAGrave - Claude M Loe, Jr (photo, group burial photos) "His mother sent flowers every year but never was able to make the trip to see his grave." 475th Fighter Group Historical Foundation - 431st Hades Fighter Squadron, Second Lieutenants listed "Edward J. Leidenbert" [sic] Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 22, 2025 |
 B-25  Photo Archive  MIA 10 Missing Resolved |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
