|  |
|
| 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 345th BG 501st BS |
Pilot Captain James W. Underwood, O-421358 (MIA / KIA) Hermosa Beach, CA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt William H. Clark, O-718868 (MIA / KIA) Hammond, IN Nav-Bomb Major William J. McBride, O-662285 Headquarters Squadron (MIA / KIA) Minneapolis, MN Engineer Sgt Carl E. Schenzel, 36244506 (MIA / KIA) Merrill, WI Radio TSgt Robert S. Knowlden, 13070626 (MIA / KIA) Washington, DC Gunner SSgt George H. Ray, 13025173 (MIA / KIA) Shavertown, PA Crashed January 9, 1945 MACR 11792 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) at Air Force Plant NC at Fairfax Field near Kansas City, KS. Constructors Number 108-35302. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25J-10-NC Mitchell serial number 43-36012. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Wartime History On October 5, 1944 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG), 501st Bombardment Squadron (501st BS). Nicknamed "Lazy Daisy Mae". Also known as "012" for the last three digits of the serial number. Assigned to crew chief Greenquist. On October 28, 1944 was the first B-25 to land at newly repaired Tacloban Airfield on Leyte. On November 3, 1944 took off from Tacloban Airfield on a mission against Alicante on Negros. On January 7, 1945 took off from Tacloban Airfield piloted Jones on a mission against Clark Field on Luzon. When lost, engines R-2600-29 serial numbers 43-36012 and 43-27616. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makes and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On January 9, 1945 before dawn, took off from Tacloban Airfield on Leyte piloted by Captain James W. Underwood on a mission to support the U.S. landing at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon. Aboard was Major William J. McBride from Headquarters Squadron (HQ) who was the group's bombing and gunnery officer. Roughly an hour later, this B-25 was last seen in formation at 7,000' flying above cloud cover over Sibuyan Island in the Romblon Islands with a peak at an elevation of 6,500' when it suddenly disappeared. Moments later, a flash of light and large explosion was observed on a nearby mountain peak presumed to be this plane. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage In fact, this B-25 had crashed northwest of Sibuyan on the northern part of Mindoro Island. During May 1963, a U.S. Army search and recovery team, acting on a tip from Filipinos in the area visited the crash site. Also found were "five incomplete bones." It was subsequently learned in February 2008, that the bones had been cremated in 1965 by the Army since they could not be positively identified. No further efforts have been made since 1963 to search for any additional remains at the crash site. A February 1965 memo in the file notes that the tail boom of the plane was found (with ID number and the Red Raider insignia of the 501st Bombardment Squadron), along with Capt Underwood's ID tag and flight school ring engraved with his name inside. (Nothing was reportedly found from any of the other five crew members.) Not until August 2002, when the family Capt James Underwood, obtained his Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF), did they learn of the discovery in 1963 or recovery of remains. This was never reported to the Underwood family. Memorials The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Underwood earned the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Clark earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Evergreen Memorial Park in Hobart, IN in section 3 near the graves of his parents. McBride earned the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart Schenzel earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Merrill Memorial Park in Merrill, WI. Knowlden earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Ray earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Relatives James W. Briggs (son of James W. Underwood) References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William J. Mc Bride NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Carl E. Schenzel NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George H. Ray USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25J-10-NC Mitchell 43-36012 MACR 11792 (MACR 11792) created January 11, 1945 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James W. Underwood FindAGrave - Capt James Willard Underwood (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William H. Clark FindAGrave - 2Lt William H Clark (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lt. William Howard Clark (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William J. McBride FindAGrave - MAJ William J McBride (photo, tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Carl E. Schenzel FindAGrave - Sgt Carl E Schenzel (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SGT Carl E Schenzel (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert S. Knowlden FindAGrave - TSGT Robert Slack Knowlden (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George H. Ray FindAGrave - SSGT George H Ray (photo, obituary, tablets of the missing photo) Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 220 (profile 32), 254 (January 9, 1945 & photo) 374 (January 9, 1945 crew list), 399 (501st BS, 43-36012), 426-427 (profile 32 description), 439 (index Clark), 448 (index Underwood) Thanks to James W. Briggs 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 December 5, 2025 |
 B-25  Map January 9, 1945  MIA 6 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
