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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 498th BS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Elmer J. Kirkland, O-742587 (MIA / KIA, BR) Bellaire, OH Navigator 2nd Lt. Robert E. Jackson, O-814073 (MIA / KIA, BR) Ardmore, PA Radar SSgt Cecil L. Barnes, 14119279 (MIA / KIA, BR) Richmond, VA Engineer SSgt Charles Q. Jones (MIA / KIA, BR) Monroe County, IN Gunner Sgt Claude E. Hill (MIA / KIA ) Crashed May 29, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 98-21342. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25H-1 Mitchell serial number 43-4344. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History On April 10, 1944 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 498th Bombardment Squadron (498th BS) "Falcons". No known nickname or nose art. Assigned to crew chief TSgt William J. Rousseau. Mission History On May 29, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Elmer J. Kirkland on a low level strike against Mokmer Drome on Biak. Over the target, hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed. When this aircraft failed to return, listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Recovery of Remains After the U.S. Army captured Biak, the remains of the crew were recovered. Postwar, their remains were transported to the Philippines and United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. Each of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Kirkland earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot D, row 2, grave 128. Jackson is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot A, row 1, grave 169. Barnes is buried at Evergreen Burial Park in Roanoke, VA at section 6, lot 694. He also has a memorial marker at Oakdale Cemetery in DeLand, FL in plot Sylvan Park 194. Jones is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Bloomington, IN in section H, lot 203. Hill has an unknown burial, likely in his hometown in the United States. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Elmer J. Kirkland NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert E. Jackson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Cecil L. Barnes USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25H-1 Mitchell 43-4341 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Elmer J. Kirkland FindAGrave - 1LT Elmer Jebb Kirkland (grave photo, memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert E. Jackson FindAGrave - 2Lt Robert Earl Jackson (grave photos) FindAGrave - Cecil Lawson Barnes (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Cecil Lawson Barnes (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Charles Quincy Jones (grave photo) Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 369 (May 29, 1944 43-4344), 382 (498th BS, 43-4344), 442 (index Kirkland) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 22, 2025 |
 B-25  MIA 4 Missing |
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