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| USAAF 5th AF 3rd BG 90th BS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. William R. Johnson (survived) Co-Pilot; 2nd Lt. Leonidas Baker (survived) Crew SSgt L. Cooley (survived) Gunner SSgt F. Aubrey (survived) Gunner Cpl. D. Welch (survived) Gunner Cpl. Holley Perkins, Jr., 17014368 (survived) AR Ditched April 24, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Inglewood. Constructors Number 82-??? last four digits unknown. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25C Mitchell serial number 41-129?? the last two digits are unknown. Possibly, B-25C 41-12444, B-25C 41-12484 or B-25C 41-12489. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History During April 1942, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th BG), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 90th Bombardment Squadron (90th BS). Nicknamed "Chattanooga Choo Choo". Mission History On April 24, 1942 took off from Charters Towers Airfield pilot 2nd Lt. William R. Johnson armed with bombs as one of three B-25s on a flight via Cairns Airfield bound for 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby to stage for a combat mission planned the next day against Lae. When the trio of B-25 reached the southern coast of New Guinea then turned westward but were unable to locate Port Moresby and turned around to fly eastward. At dusk, the trio was short on fuel the group jettisoned their bombs into the sea in anticipation of ditching. Aboard this bomber, several bombs failed to release and it is unknown if the crew was aware they were hung up before ditching. All three B-25s ditched into Mullins Harbor near Mariawate on the southern coast of New Guinea. When this B-25 ditched, several bombs hung up in the bomb bay detonated. Five of the crew went Missing In Action (MIA) either killed by the blast or when the bomber crashed. Also ditched was B-25C "Tojo's Nitemare" and B-25C "Salvo Sadie" ditched further to the west. Fates of the Crew The entire crew swam ashore unhurt. Later, they were located and assisted by Reverend M. Nixon of the London Missionary Society (LMS) as well as Sgt Hill, the soul survivor of B-25C "Tojo's Nitemare". Nixon reported the ditching to ANGAU officer Captain "Mac" Rich, who sailed from Samarai aboard the Marek, who arrived and met them, then looked for B-25C "Salvo Sadie" returning with that crew on May 1, 1942 to the Fife Bay area. On May 2, 1942, "Chattanooga Choo Choo" crew wanted to salvage personal effects from the plane, and three launches were commandeered, and they unsuccessfully attempted to drag the aircraft to shallower water, they gave up at sunset. The survivors of the triple ditching left the area on May 3 aboard the Marek to Milne Bay, where they held a memorial service for the crew of "Tojo's Nitemare". On May 4, 1942 departed aboard MV Matoma traveling westward via Abau Island before arriving at Port Moresby ten days later and were sent back to Australia. Issac Luile adds "The bomber is actually in Mullins Harbor, part of Fife Bay District. As a school boy in about 1968 we used to go out there at low tide and play on the wreckage. Now, it is dropping deeper and deeper in the mud. The whole body is still there, but bits and pieces have been taken only." Memorials Perkins passed away on June 9, 1999 at age 79. He is buried at East Memorial Gardens in Texarkana, AR. Baker passed away on April 23, 2014 at age 97. He is buried at Oakdale Cemetery in Wilmington, NC at section R Lot 27 N 1/2. Relatives Bill Perkins (son of Holley Perkins, Jr.) "have a picture of Dad and the other surviving crew members on board a ship either going to Port Moresby or back to Australia." References NARA 2nd Lt. William R. Johnson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Holley Perkins, Jr. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25C Mitchell PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25C Mitchell piloted by Johnson Milne Bay 1942 (1992) page 15 "The Crash of the B25s" Flightpath Magazine "Underwater Trio" by Michael Claringbould FindAGrave - Holley Perkins, Jr (grave photo) FindAGrave - Leonidas Baker (grave) Thanks to Edward Rogers and Larry Hickey 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
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