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| USAAF 5th AF 71st TRG 17th TRS |
Pilot Lt. Frederic E. Kluth, O-760869 (WIA / KIA, BR) WI Co-Pilot Lt. Young (WIA / KIA) Engineer Sgt Harold Ford (survived) Navigator Sgt John Hawk, 16186535 (KIA, BR) MI Tail Gunner Sgt Peter Eliot Rice, 16056440 (KIA, BR) WI Crashed May 18, 1945 MACR 14458 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 100-23612. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-25 Mitchell serial number 42-87444. 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 "Charmin' Lady" with a seated woman on the right side of the nose. On May 10, 1945 this B-25 flew a combat mission against Formosa (Taiwan). Mission History On May 18, 1945 took off from Lingayen Airfield piloted by Lt. Frederic E. Kluth on a ground attack mission against targets near Divisoria in the Cagayan Valley. A bomb hung up on its first pass, requiring it to make another run. At low level it was hit by ground fire, setting the right engine on fire and cause the bomber to crash. On impact, the B-25 broke into two pieces over a long debris field. Other B-25s dropped supplies on the crash site, and observed several members of the crew alive or wounded on the ground. Amazingly, the engineer, Sgt Harold Ford survived the crash and gave morphine and assistance to the two wounded pilots. Soon after the crash, Filipino guerrillas located the crash and assisted the survivors, removing them in makeshift stretchers to the safety of hills and got more medical attention. The two pilots died of their wounds the next morning. Ford was behind enemy lines and reached U.S. Army rangers who assisted him back to Lingayen Airfield five days later. Memorials The three killed in the crash were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Afterwards, their remains were recovered and transported to Manila for permanent burial. Kluth earned the Silver Star, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot D row 15 grave 29. Hawk earned the Silver Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot A row 7 grave 89. Rice earned the earned the Silver Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot L row 15 grave 78. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John Hawk USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-25 Mitchell 42-87444 "87444 (71st BG) lost May 18, 1945, SW Pacific." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frederic E. Kluth American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John Hawk American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Peter Eliot Rice FindAGrave - 1Lt Frederic Edward Kluth (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - SSgt John Hawk FindAGrave - SSGT Peter Eliot Rice Combat Recon (2007) pages 118-119 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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