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| USAAF 13th AF 42nd BG 100th BS  Ray Fairfield 1972  Alfred Kirkland 1997  Phil Bradley 2001  Bill Lusty 2006 |
Pilot Captain Charles W. Wolfendale (survived) Lynn, MA Force Landed September 3, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 98-21514. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25H-5 Mitchell serial number 43-4513. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SOPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 42nd Bombardment Group (42nd BG) "The Crusaders", 100th Bombardment Squadron (100th BS). No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On September 3, 1944 took off from Stirling Airfield piloted by Captain Charles W. Wolfendale as one of three B-25s on a mission to attack targets of opportunity around New Britain. Reaching the southern coast of New Britain, the three B-25s headed southwest flying low over Wide Bay in search of targets of opportunity. Recent sweeps in the same area proved negative. As the flight passed over Kalai Plantation, they observed wrecked wharf, derelict plantation buildings, and several beached barges that had been destroyed in previous missions then attacked a tug boat. Over this area, this B-25 sustained damage from small arms fire that caused one engine to fail and the other to begin overheating. Damaged, pilot Wolfendale decided to make an emergency landing on the north coast of New Britain on the Willaumez Peninsula at Talasea Airfield. When it touched down at high speed, the nose wheel tire blew out and the nose gear collapsed as the bomber skidded to a halt on coming to a rest on the nose. None of the crew were hurt in the landing. Wreckage Afterwards, this B-25 was pushed off the runway with all serviceable components salvaged then written off. This B-25 remains in situ where it force landed. Today, this B-25 is one of the better known, easily accessible and intact aircraft wrecks that remains in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Sadly, in 2006, the left outer wing was removed by scrappers, but stopped by local people. John Curran visited the wreck in 1969: "At one time I visited the B-25H at Talasea. It was remarkably untouched inside. I was amazed at seeing an enormous heavy cannon mounted on the underside. In the cockpit there was an A4 size card showing in graph form trajectories etc. B25H was on the top of the card. I took this card but unfortunately it has disappeared somewhere. I was surprised at how this card had remained in the cockpit since - I guess about 1944." Cecilie Benjamin adds in 2006 "The wing hasn't been removed but cut off near the engine and lying in the grass. The aircraft no longer looks as good as it once did. We heard people were in the process of removing it when they were interrupted by local people." Memorials Wolfendale was killed on November 9, 1951 in the crash of KC-97E Stratofreighter 51-0198. He is buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery in Lynn, MA. Relatives Are you a relative of a member of this aircrew? Contact Us References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Charles W. Wolfendale USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25H-5 Mitchell 43-4513 "4513 (42nd BG, 40th BS) force-landed at Talasea, Papua Sep 3, 1944 following combat damage." FindAGrave - Charles William Wolfendale (Saint Joseph Cemetery) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25 43-4513 FlyPast "Last of the Ship Bsters" by Brian Bennett pages 18-19 Charles W. Wolfendale Flightpath "The Talasea Mitchell North American B-25H-NA #43-4513" by Michael Claringbould page 81-84 Pacific Ghosts CD-ROM profiles this aircraft 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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