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| USAAF 5th AF 22nd BG 2nd BS Former Assignments 19th BS  22nd BG c1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Gerald J. Crosson (survived) Crew McCaskey (WIA, survived) Crew Johnson (WIA, survived) Force Landed January 3, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Martin in Baltimore, Maryland. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-26 Marauder serial number 40-1422. Wartime History During 1941 assigned to the 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), 19th Bombardment Squadron (19th BS). Assigned plane number 31. Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Franklin S. Allen with crew chief Harrum. During February 1942, flown to Hickam Field and transferred to the 2nd Bombardment Squadron (2nd BS) at the Hawaiian Air Depot (HAD). Flown across the Pacific by 1st Lt. Hubert J. Konopacki arriving at Amberley Field on April 2, 1942. Afterwards, flown to Reid River Airfield as one of the first bombers from the 2nd Bombardment Squadron to arrive. Nicknamed "So Sorry" with the nose art of a bomb falling. Regular pilots included Konopacki and Crosson. Crew chiefs included Peters, Gill and Testa. On May 7, 1942 during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea flew its first combat mission, but aborted due to mechanical failure. In total, this B-26 flew at least 34 combat missions over New Guinea before it was lost. Mission History On January 3, 1943 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Gerald J. Crosson leading a formation of six B-26s on a bombing mission against Lae Airfield. Over the target, hit by anti-aircraft fire in the bomb bay that disabled the elevator cables with two crew wounded by shrapnel: McCaskey and Johnson. Damaged, this B-26 flew down the north coast of New Guinea and successfully belly landed in a clearing at Kukuobata near Dobodura behind the front lines with Allied forces in combat nearby at Buna. Later, the aircraft was recovered. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-26 40-1422 "1422 (22nd BG) crash-landed at Kukumbuta, New Guinea due to AAA damage Jan 3, 1943." Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 106, 120. 163-164, 301, 490, 495, 517, 539-540 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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