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| USAAF 5th AF 22nd BG 19th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Martin in Baltimore, Maryland. At the factory, painted with olive drab upper surfaces and gray lower surfaces. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-26 Marauder 40-1488. Disassembled and shipped as cargo across the Pacific arriving on April 5, 1942 at Melbourne and reassembled at Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) then flown to Garbutt Field at Townsville. Wartime History On April 30, 1942 assigned to the 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), 19th Bombardment Squadron (19th BS) as a replacement aircraft. No known nickname or nose art. Assigned squadron number "2" in yellow on both sides of the nose. The rear fuselage had serial number 01488 stenciled in yellow. Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Walter H. Greer with crew chief TSgt Harrison. During May 1942 operated from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. On May 15, 1942 this B-26 was scheduled to fly a mission against Rabaul piloted by 2nd Lt. Pierre G. Powell, but the mission was canceled due to high winds at Port Moresby. On May 26, 1942 scheduled to fly a bombing mission against Lae piloted by 1st Lt. Walter H. Greer, but the mission was canceled due to an enemy air raid on Port Moresby. On June 9, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome piloted by 1st Lt. Walter H. Greer on a bombing mission against Salamaua. Aboard as a passenger was LtCdr Lyndon B. Johnson. Before reaching the target, this bomber aborted the mission. Pilot 1st Lt. Walter H. Greer Co-Pilot P/O Graham B. J. Robertson, RAAF 412717 Navigator 2nd Lt. B. B. Boothe Bombardier Sgt C. A. McCredie Engineer Pfc H. G. Brown Radio Sgt L. H. Walker Gunner Sgt B. E. Newhouse Passenger LtCdr Lyndon B. Johnson, USNR Afterwards, General Douglas MacArthur recommended Johnson for the Silver Star for gallantry in action on the mission and was the only member of the crew to receive a decoration. This B-26 was transfered to Australia. Between July 19-25, 1942 assigned to the Torpedo Training School at Nowra Airfield. Returning from this assignment nicknamed "Heckling Hare". On October 2, 1942 flew its last combat mission. Steve Shipler adds (son of James H. Shipler): "My dad was Captain James H. Shipler in the 19 Sqdn, 22nd Bomb Grp and flew B-26 40-01488. I believe he replaced Walter Greer. He loved the B-26 and when he had to fly it to the junk yard when they were transitioning to B-24's he pried the radio call plate off the instrument panel and kept it on his key chain for most of his life. I'm including pictures of the radio call plate as well as his B-26 which you can tell had been renamed the Hoosier Miss. I still have log books, photos of bombing missions and base buildings if you have any interest." During early 1943, striped to a bare aluminum finish with the "Silver Fleet" motif on the tail above the serial number on both sides of the tail. In late May 1943 crew chief TSgt Harrison was promoted to the rank of MSgt and assigned to "C" Flight and this bomber was assigned to crew chief TSgt Everett W. "Wayne" Stoops who renamed the bomber "Hoosier Miss" in honor of his home state of Indiana with a female figure inside a rectangle on the right side of the nose with a scoreboard below the cockpit with two rows of bomb markings indicating bombing missions flown. In total, this bomber flew at least 42 combat missions including 29 with the "Silver Fleet". During January 1944 scrapped in Brisbane. Memorials Greer was promoted to the rank of Major. On April 12, 1945 he died in a B-29 crash at Barksdale Field at age 28. He is buried at Oakland Cemetery in Russllville, AR. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-26 Marauder 40-1488 "1488 (22nd BG) scrapped in Brisbane Jan 1944" WW2 Nominal Roll - Graham Brindle John Robertson, 412717 NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Walter H. Greer NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James H. Shipler Winged Samurai (1985) pages 41-45 FindAGrave - MAJ Walter Herman Greer (grave photo) Pacific Air Combat (1993) "LBJ's Silver Star" pages 16-21 Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 87 (photo), 105 (June 9, 1942), 141 (photo), 185 (photo), 303 (artwork profile 10), 496 (40-1488, 19th BS "Hoosier Miss"), 550-551 (Profile 10 description, photos), 522, 541 (photo), 543 (photo), 556 (photo), 565 (photo), 611 (index Hecklin' Hare / Hoosier Miss) Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Commander Lyndon Baines Johnson, USNR Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) - Commander Lyndon B. Johnson's Army Silver Star Medal Citation Hall Of Valor Project - Lyndon Baines Johnson Silver Star "The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star (Army Award) to Lieutenant Commander Lyndon Baines Johnson, United States Naval Reserve, for gallantry in action in the vicinity of Port Moresby and Salamaua, New Guinea while attached to a B-26 bomber of the 22d Bombardment Group, Far East Air Forces, U.S. Army Air Force, on 9 June 1942. While on a mission of obtaining information in the Southwest Pacific area, Lieutenant Commander Johnson, in order to obtain personal knowledge of combat conditions, volunteered as an observer on a hazardous aerial combat mission over hostile positions in New Guinea. As our planes neared the target area they were intercepted by eight hostile fighters. When, at this time, the plane in which Lieutenant Commander Johnson was an observer, developed mechanical trouble and was forced to turn back alone, presenting a favorable target to the enemy fighters, he evidenced marked coolness in spite of the hazards involved. His gallant action enabled him to obtain and return with valuable information. His gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service." Thanks to Steve Shipler son of James H Shipler for additional information Contribute
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