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| USAAF 5th AF 71st TRG 17th TRS   17th TRS 1944  17th TRS 1944 |
Pilot 2nd Lt William N. Hatcher, O-764991 (KIA, BR) Albany, TX Co-Pilot 2Lt Virgil S. Johnson, O-764954 (MIA / KIA) Malvern, AR Navigator 2Lt Lawrence R. Hertweck, O-765491 (MIA / KIA) Glenshaw, PA Gunner SSgt Herbert C. Hedgecock, 38405264 (MIA / KIA) Chickasha, OK Radio SSgt Edward J. Krigier, 32732938 (MIA / KIA) Buffalo, NY Engineer SSgt Robert R. Rogers, 38413800 (MIA / KIA) Beaumont, TX Crashed December 26, 1944 at 8:30pm MACR 12603 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 100-20790. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-25 Mitchell serial number 42-87297. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (71st TRG), 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (17th TRS). Nicknamed "The Mad Mizurian" with the nose art of an American Indian chief with a head dress on both sides of the nose. On the right side below the artwork was "Giradamo" in italics with double quotation marks. When lost, engines R-2600-18 serial numbers 41-28791 and 41-28980. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers not noted in Missing Air Crew Report 12603 (MACR 12603). Mission History On December 26, 1944 took off from San Jose Airfield piloted by 2nd Lt William N. Hatcher on a strike against the Japanese task force in the Mindoro Strait off western Mindoro. After spotting the task force, the formation returned to San Jose Airfield then took off again immediately to bomb and strafe the Japanese warships. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). It was believed this B-25 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into the Mindoro Strait. Search Afterwards, 310th Air-Sea Rescue directed by 2nd Lt. Alvin R. Johnson unsuccessfully searched for this plane and crew. Recovery of Remains Afterwards, the body of 2nd Lt William N. Hatcher was recovered by American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) and the cause of death was reported as drowning. The rest of the crew remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. Hatcher earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery Plot D Row 1 Grave 8. Johnson earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Fairplay Cemetery in Benton, AR. He is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Hertweck earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Hedgecock earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Krigier earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Rogers earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at the Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Bethel Cemetery in Appleby, TX. Relatives Lilian Fain (mother of Robert R. Rogers) Tammy Brown (cousin of Robert R. Rogers) Tom Brown (cousin in law of Robert R. Rogers) "Robert R. Rogers had flown 23 combat missions totaling 125.25 hours. Robert Rogers was an only child, his mother died about 10 years ago. My wife Tammy and her mom (Sarah Tubbe) were the only relatives left of Rogers. When they went through his mothers belongings after she passed away every letter they ever wrote to each other during WWII was saved by each of them, so when Rogers was MIA then declared dead they returned his belonging to his mom. She put her letters and pictures from him, with his saved letters, pictures, training manuals, and many other things all in a big box. Once she learned he was MIA she continued to write for months. Of course the army returned the letters stamped MIA 12/26/1944. I found the letter she wrote the day she received the Western Union dispatch from the Adjutant Generals office informing her of Rogers missing in action. We also have the Western Union dispatch." References Other sources incorrectly list the nickname of this B-25 as "The Mad Missourian" [sic The Mad Mizurian] USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-25 Mitchell 42-87297 "87297 (71st BG) lost Dec 26, 1944, SW Pacific." Missing Air Crew Report 12603 (MACR 12603) created January 12, 1945 American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - William N. Hatcher American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Virgil S. Johnson American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Lawrence R. Hertweck American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Herbert C. Hedgecock American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Edward J. Krigier American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Robert R. Rogers FindAGrave - 2Lt William Norman Hatcher (grave photos) FindAGrave - 1Lt Virgil S Johnson (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1LT Virgil S. Johnson (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Lawrence R Hertweck (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1LT Lawrence R Hertweck (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Herbert C Hedgecock (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Edward J Krigier (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Robert R Rogers (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Robert Ray Rogers (memorial marker photo) Thanks to Tammy Brown, Sarah Tubbe and Tom Brown 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 November 28, 2025 |
 B-25  Dec 26, 1944  Photo Archive  MIA 5 Missing |
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