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| USAAF 13th AF 42nd BG 69th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Richard W. Reed (survived) Cuyahoga County, OH Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. William W. Carlisle (survived) Lisman, AL Navigator 1st Lt. Patrick H. Watts (survived) Engineer S/Sgt William S. Price, 15097942 (WIA, survived) Bourbon County, KY Radio Cpl. Carl A. Cook (survived) Turret Gunner Cpl. Warren G. Johnson (survived) Photographer S/Sgt August C. Valentin (WIA, survived) Ditched April 12, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number unknown. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D Mitchell serial number unknown. 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", 69th Bombardment Squadron (69th BS). Nicknamed "El Croco". Mission History On April 12, 1944 took off from Banika Airfield in the Russell Islands Group piloted by 1st Lt. Richard W. Reed on a photo reconnaissance mission over Rabaul. Over the target, at 9,000' this B-25 dove down to 4,000' to begin a photographic run. After coming out of a cloud at 300 mph, it was fired on by anti-aircraft fire and flew through a mass of flak. Half of one engine was torn off and the other engine caught fire and was leaking oil. Also, the ailerons, turret, bomb bay, nose and wings were hit, and a portion of the tail was knocked off and crew man wounded. Hit by a second barrage, the B-25 dove to 2,500' over Simpson Harbor, banking 80 degrees in a spin headed towards Lakunai Airfield. Following the coastline, the B-25 ditched twenty miles from Rabaul, making a smooth landing into a 15' sea swells, and the B-25 sank in less than a minute. Shore batteries began firing on them, until other friendly aircraft in the area dove down to strafe the guns. Rescue A bomber formation returning from a mission circled the downed crew and radioed a PBY Catalina that arrived within an hour. The entire crew were rescued by a PBY Catalina pilot Ensign Wayburn C. Cook from Patrol Squadron 91 (VP-91) and returned to duty. Memorials Carlisle retired from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) with the rank of Major. He passed away February 11, 1973 and is buried at Resthaven Memorial Gardens in Lisman, AL. For his World War II and Korean War service, he earned the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters and a purple heart. Relatives William W. Carlisle Jr. (son of William W. Carlisle) "My father William W. Carlisle 69th BS left Banika Strip 4/12/44 on a volunteer photo mission to Rabaul. They were in a D model B-25 named El Crocco. Over Simpson harbor they had #2 engine shot out and the prop was messed up on #1. They ditched 25 mile from Rabaul off Cape Gazzle. Navy pby picked they up. He got the Air Medal and flew 66 missions. He was in the 69th BS and later the 100th BS. Postwar, he served with the U.S. Air Force in the 153rd Fighter Squadron, Mississipi Air National Guard during the Korean War era. He passed away in 1973." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard W. Reed NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William W. Carlisle NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William S. Price The Crusaders: A History of the 42nd Bombardment Group pages 77-78 FindAGrave - William W. Carlisle (gave photo) Thanks to Jim Sawruk, Edward Rogers and Ewan Stevenson 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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