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  B-25H-1 Mitchell Serial Number 43-4156  
USAAF
5th AF
HQ Squadron

Pilot  1st Lt. Robert D. Mackoy, O-664211 (MIA / KIA) Milwaukee, WI
Radio  SSgt James M. Dowling, 31169188 (MIA / KIA) Canterbury, CT
Engineer  Sgt William J. Dedina, 37431014 5th AF, HQ Squadron (MIA / KIA) Rock Falls, IA
Crew  Sgt Albert P. Foley, 12010901 5th AF, HQ Squadron (MIA / KIA) Philadelphia, PA
Crew  Cpl Harry M. McCall, 14071264 5th AF, HQ Squadron (MIA / KIA) Hattiesburg, MS
MIA  December 22, 1944
MACR  13325

Aircraft History
Built by North American in Inglewood. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25H-1 Mitchell serial number 43-4156. 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), Headquarters Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engine R-2600-13 serial numbers 43-23181 and 43-28344. No armament was aboard.

Mission History
On December 22, 1944 took off from Owi Airfield pilot 1st Lt. Robert D. Mackoy on a routine flight to an unknown destination. This B-25 was last seen before take off by TSgt Victor A. Bright. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). The cause of the crash was unknown.

Missing Air Crew Report 13325 (MACR 13325) page 3:
"Remarks: Missing 22 December 1944 on a routine flight from Owi Island, N.E.I. to destination unknown. Unreported since take off. Submission of this report has been delayed due to lack of official information concerning accident and due to change of station of this organization which resulted in airplane and personnel being detached from operations this organization. Personnel were on LS to 309th Bomb Wing, APO 920 [Biak], which changed station, leaving no immediate source of contact with personnel or information concerning routine and frequent flights of airplane[s]."

Search
No known searches were conducted for this B-25.

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared on December 23, 1945. None of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously likely became the flight was over a non-combat area. All are memorialized Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of missing. Previously, Mackoy was assigned to the 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG) and earned the Air Medal.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert D. Mackoy
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James M. Dowling

NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Albert P. Foley

USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25H-1 Mitchell 43-4156
Missing Air Crew Report 13325 (MACR 13325) created March 14, 1945 lists pilot's middle name as B. [sic] also lists crew member Cpl Harry M. Mc Call [sic McCall]
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert D. Mackoy
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James M. Dowling
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William J. Dedina
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Albert P. Foley
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harry M. McCall
FindAGrave - 1LT Robert D Mackoy (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - SSGT James M Dowling (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt William J Dedina (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt Albert P Foley (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - CPL Harry Mitchell McCall (photo, tablets of the missing photo)
Ancestry - Robert D Mackoy (1910-1944)
Thanks to Edward Rogers for research and analysis

Contribute Information
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Last Updated
December 29, 2024

 

Tech Info
B-25

MIA
MIA
5 Missing
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