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| USAAF 5th AF FEAF CRTC 360th SrG   Lindsay Nov 10, 1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Harold E. Warvel 345th BG, 499th BS (survived) Palestine, OH Co-Pilot Francis A. Thompson, O-765354 (survived) Navigator 2nd Lt. Kenneth L. "Smitty" Smith (survived) Engineer Cpl Joseph R. Bechtel, 33693508 (survived) Wichita, KS Radio Cpl William B. Pearl, 16160851 (MIA / KIA) Wayne County, MI Gunner Cpl Assad T. "Ted" Razook (survived) Passenger 2nd Lt. Leon H. Glasser 38th BG, 405th BS (survived) Ditched November 10, 1944 MACR none Crew History This crew flew two combat training mission in New Guinea. The first on November 6, 1944 and a second a few days later. Passenger 2nd Lt. Leon A. Glasser was a bombardier from the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG), 405th Bombardment Squadron (405th BS) who wanted to fly another combat mission before rotating back to the United States. Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 108-35294. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25J-10-NC Mitchell serial number 43-36004. 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) to the Far East Air Force - Combat Replacement and Training Center (FEAF-CRTC), 360th Air Service Group (360th SrG) at Nadzab Airfield. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On November 10, 1944 in the morning took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Harold E. Warvel as one of three aircraft two B-25Js and a single A-20 Havoc on a low level bombing and strafing mission against Wewak. four days earlier. Aboard was a passenger, 1st Lt. Leon A. Glasser was an additional pilot who wanted to fly another combat mission before rotating back to the United States. Over the target around 9:30am, this B-25 was hit by anti-aircraft fire in the tail, wing and left engine. A fire began to spreading in the left wing and the extinguisher system failed. Damaged, radio operator Cpl William B. Pearl managed to transmit an "S. O. S." message. Damaged, Lt. Warvel and co-pilot Lt. Thompson ditched the bomber into heavy seas between Wewak and Muschu Island. Fates of the Crew After ditching, pilot Warvel was knocked unconscious but rescued by co-pilot Thompson and navigator Smith. Inside the fuselage, radio operator Cpl William B. Pearl who had just transmitted the "S. O. S." was unable to exit the plane and likely drown when the plane sank. He remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). The rest of the crew survived with two wounded but managed to deploy their life raft and placed both pilots inside. The raft was leaking and required constant pumping to remain afloat with the three others swimming alongside. The Japanese on shore were firing at their life raft. Turing the raft into the wind, the three crew tried to get out of range and swam for seven hours until rescued. Afterwards, one of the B-25J Mitchells in the formation circled their raft for nearly three hours before departing. Rescue Meanwhile, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) PBY-5A Catalina A24-92 piloted by Flt. Lt. Ian J. L. Wood from 8 Communication Unit (8 CU) heard the "S. O. S." and proceeded to the area to attempt a rescue. At 4:15pm the PBY rendezvoused at 4,500' with eight DAP Beauforts from No. 7 Squadron (A9-507, A9-356, A9-595, A9-599, A9-471, A9-364, A9-412, A9-461) that took off from Tadji Airfield to support the rescue. Arriving over Wewak, the eight Beauforts dropped bombs on anti-aircraft positions on Cape Wom, Wewak Point and Cape Moem as part of diversionary attack while the rescue commenced. Around 4:30pm Catalina A24-92 spotted the life raft approximately a half mile southeast of Muschu Island and made several circuits before landing roughly 200m away near Cape Wom. Against orders, the crew shut down both engines in order to rescue all six aboard. The rescue was photographed using crew member Leading Airman Philip S. Lindsay personal camera, a gift from his wife. Before departing, one of the Americans recuse used his pistol to sink the life raft. Safely aboard, the Catalina restarted both engines and departed the area. As darkness set in around 8:30pm they landed at Madang Airfield. Afterwards, the rescued crew were taken to a hospital at Madang and remained overnight. The next morning they were flown back to Nadzab. Afterwards, pilot Wood earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for this rescue. Memorials Pearl was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. Pearl remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. The rest of the crew earned the Purple Heart for injuries on the mission. Leon Glasser died postwar. Razook passed away 2006 at age 85 or 86. He is buried at Mound Township Cemetery in Moundridge, KS. Warvel passed away February 11, 1974. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harold E. Warvel date of birth listed as 1932 [sic 1922?] NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Jospeh R. Bechtel NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William B. Pearl NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Leon H. Glasser USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25J-10-NC Mitchell 43-36004 Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) - William B. Pearl, 16160851 NAA RAAF No. 7 Squadron Detail of Operation 1/11/44 - 30/11/44 page 372 The Greenville Daily Advocate "Warvel Has Narrow Escape" January 26, 1945, page 5 "The following story was received this week by The Daily Advocate from General Headquarters public relations office, somewhere in the Pacific: Prompt thinking and quick action saved five men of a six-man B-25 crew recently when the plane caught fire after being hit by enemy ack-ack on a bombing and strafing run over Wewak. The crew, members of Far East Air Forces' Combat Replacement and Training Center, had completed their bombing run and were strafing when the pilot, First Lieutenant Harold E. Warvel of Palestine, Ohio, noticed the left engine had been hit by enemy fire. With the fire extinguisher system out of order and the flames spreading rapidly, Warvel set the plane down in a heavy sea, staying at the controls until the plane stopped." The Detroit Jewish Chronicle and the Legal Chronicle "Cpl. William B. Pearl Dies: A Hero In Pacific Air Battle" by Fay Zager June 29, 1945 page 8 "There is a gold star in the window at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard A. Pearl, at 2696 Webb Avenue, in memory of their only son, Cpl. William B. Pearl, 20, killed in action at New Guinea. His death was recently confirmed by the war department. On the afternoon of Sept. 20, 1942, Bill dashed into the house and announced with all the pride and joy of youth that he had just passed the examination as an Air Cadet. The fact that he was not yet 18, that he would miss graduating from high school the following January, did not matter. His country was at war and he wanted to get into the fight. Nothing could stop him. Bill left with his contingent in February, 1943. Followed a course of training in Florida, Ohio, Texas, Arizona and South Carolina. In the end, he was assigned with six other men as a radio operator on a B-25, with the rank of corporal. Leaves for Pacific On Oct. 18, 1944, his parents received a letter from him from Hamilton Field, California, that he was leaving for overseas and, "Do not worry about me. I will be O. K., and I'll be back shortly, you'll see." But that will never be. He arrived in New Guinea on Oct. 22, 1944. He reached his 20th birthday four days later on foreign soil, never to see his homeland again. For on Nov. 10, 1944, on their third mission over Jap territory at Wewak, New Guinea, their B-25 Bomber was shot down in flames and crashed in the Pacific Ocean. Bill was sending out distress signals to the last and went down with the plane. In response to his calls, the other six members of his crew were later saved. Name Plane for Him Letters from Bill's crew speak of him in glowing terms -- that he was the spirit of the crew -- he gave them always a much needed laugh -- he was a great radio-man -- he was their buddy -- they all loved him -- and that he went down with his plane like every true airman wants to go -- fighting and sending to the last, and their next plane will be named 'Our Bill.' When Bill was in training in the Air Forces he was a Squadron Leaders and basketball instructor. His training marks were very high, and he graduated with honors as a radio operator. His letters him are full of plans for the future. In a recent letter received by Bill's parents, from Sgt. William F. Pollock. stationed in India, one of Bill's friends, he says: '"Bill was so serious. Much different from the other G.I.s of his age. I was amazed at so liberal and democratic a mind in this young fellow. Still, with his seriousness, he was full of life. I admired his hearty laugh, his pleasant disposition and winning smile. He had a certain charm about him I find hard to describe. It was sort of a naivete toward life or perhaps it was plain goodness. A blessing of youth. It isn't often one comes in contact with this virtue." AWM P00120.001 and AWM P00120.005 show the rescue documented in photographs via Philip S. Lindsay while the caption eludes to four or five being rescued, six were rescued. The Tennessean "Warvel, Harold Edward" February 14, 1974 (obituary) Fort Worth Star Telegram "High Drama and hijinks are in co-pilot's WWII memoirs" by Frank Perkins October 1, 2002 WW2 Nominal Roll - Ian J. L. Wood, 414977 WW2 Nominal Roll - Philip S. Lindsay, 428859 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William B. Pearl FindAGrave - Corp William B Pearl (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Assad Teddy Razook (grave photo) Rescue at Wewak (2000) by Hilarie Lindsay incorrectly lists the Catalina's unit AS 111th Squadron Air Sea Rescue Unit, rather it was not assigned until January 1945 Western Pacific Escapades During World War II (2004) by Kenneth L. Smith pages 22-25 (October 20, 1944–November 9, 1944 briefing) 25-31 (November 10, 1944 mission) Thanks to Edward Rogers and Daniel Leahy for additional research and analysis 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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