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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 501st BS  345th BG August 15, 1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Eugene Nirdlinger, O-798567 (MIA / KIA, BR) PA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Jacob E. Hedenquist, Jr., O-829477 (MIA / KIA, BR) Bombardier / Navigator 1st Lt. John Scalzone, O-729574 (MIA / KIA, BR) Engineer-Gunner Sgt Herbert Ratnoff (MIA / KIA, BR) Radio-Gunner TSgt William J. Welch, Jr., 31017833 (MIA / KIA, BR) Gunner SSgt Henry G. Romaine, 20245444 (MIA / KIA, BR) Crashed August 15, 1944 MACR 16265 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 100-23709. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-30 Mitchell serial nunmber 43-3383. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF). Modified into a B-25D-2 strafer variant at the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. On April 28, 1944 assigned to 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 501st Bombardment Squadron (501st) "Black Panthers". No known nose art or nickname. Regular pilot Jacobson and crew chief Gettel. Mission History On August 15, 1944 took off from Mokmer Drome on Biak Island piloted by 1st Lt. Eugene Nirdlinger leading the squadron on a strike against the dock area of Ternate. Over the target, this B-25's bomb bay racks malfunctioned and the bomb load did not release. Instead, Nirdlinger decided to make a second bomb run against a a small ship tied up to the jetty at Dodinga on the western side of Halmahera Island with B-25D "Quitch" 41-30518 pilot 1st Lt. John J. Nolan. Approaching the jetty, anti-aircraft guns opened fire on both bombers. After releasing their bombs, both B-25 pulled up to climb over the hills surrounding the target. Possibly, this B-25 was damaged by anti-aircraft fire. While pulling up, this B-25's tail impacted the the wing of B-25D "Quitch" 41-30518 damaging the right wing. From of the impact, the tail of this bomber broke off and crashed nose first into the hillside near Dodinga on Halmahera Island. The aftermath of the explosion was photographed from the tail camera aboard B-25D "The Gay Mare" 41-30089 in the same formation. When this B-25 failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also damaged, struggled to maintain control and ditched off Kamiri on Noemfoor Island. Recovery of Remains Postwar, the remains of the crew were recovered by American Graves Registration Service (AGRS). The recovered remains were transported to the United States for permenant burial. Memorials The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. After the recovery of remains, the entire crew was buried in a group burial spanning three graves at Woodlawn National Cemetery. Nirdlinger and Hedenquist are buried at section G site 4587. Ratnoff and Romaine are buried at section G site 4588. Welch at section G site 45889. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records Eugene Nirdlinger USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-30 Mitchell 43-3383 Missing Air Crew Report 16265 (MACR 16265) created retroactively circa 1945-1946 Warpath Across The Pacific page 178-180, 371, 398 FindAGrave - Eugene Azsor Nirdlinger (photo, obituary, grave photo) FindAGrave - Jacob E Hedenquist, Jr (group burial photo) FindAGrave - John Scalzone (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Herbert Ratnoff (group burial photo) FindAGrave - William J Welch, Jr (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Henry G Romaine (photo, group burial photo) 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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