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| USAAF 13th AF 38th BG 70th BS  Hacking March 2005 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Richard T. Otis, O-426420 (MIA / KIA) VT Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Thomas O'Connor, O-426418 (MIA / KIA) GA Bombardier 2nd Lt. Merlin C. Douglass (KIA, BR) WI Navigator 2nd Lt. Charles S. Drewyour (KIA, BR) Detroit, MI Engineer SSgt Coleman D. Ramsey, 13014731 (MIA / KIA) VA Gunner Pfc Howard G. Spencer, 18058627 (MIA / KIA) Shawnee County, KS Gunner Pvt Jack J. Howard, 6669016 (MIA / KIA) IN Crashed October 13, 1942 at 3:25pm MACR 16411 Aircraft History Built by Martin in Baltimore, Maryland. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-26B Marauder serial number 41-17590. This bomber was ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific Ocean before arriving at Nadi Airfield on Viti Levu Island in Fiji. Wartime History Assigned to the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG), 70th Bombardment Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Aircraft Number 90 (last two digits of the serial number). On June 2, 1942 took off from Hamilton Field pilot Martin as part of "B" Flight (Flight B) with auxiliary fuel tanks installed in the bomb bay and a reduced crew on a ferry flight to Hickam Field on Oahu to join the Hawaiian Defense Command. All bombers landed safely although some diverted to Hilo Airfield and did not reach Hickam Field until June 4-5, too late to participate in the Battle of Midway but were on standby. Later, flown across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Mission History On October 13, 1942 took off from Nadi Airfield on Viti Levu Island piloted by 1st Lt. Richard T. Otis on a local flight for altitude training mission. As the gunners test fired their weapons, a pair of P-39 Airacobras from the 70th Fighter Squadron (70th FS) made a mock interception. During the pass, P-39D Airacobra 41-7043 accidentally collided with this bomber and both aircraft immediately crashed into the sea roughly 300 yards south of Itai Island off Nadi Airfield. After the crash, a column of black smoke was observed and later all that was seen on the surface was a an oil slick, some wreckage and the presence of sharks. When this aircraft failed to return the crew were listed as missing. Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of two crew: Douglass and Drewyour were recovered and buried. On October 14, 1942 a funeral service was held for the entire crew at Lantoka and the two recovered were buried on Fiji. Postwar, both were exhumed and transported to the United States for permanent burial. Five of the crew are officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage The wreckage of this B-26 is on a flat sandy bottom at a depth of 75' / 23m. The wreckage is scattered over a wide area and visibility is not great. The engines, main landing gear tires, fuselage and wing wreckage remain. Local dive operators have strung line to allow divers to tour the various pieces of wreckage in low visibility. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. As the flight was non-combat, none of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Honolulu Cemetery (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing. Otis, O'Connor, Ramsey and Howard on court 7. Spencer is also memorialized at Admire Cemetery in Admire, KS. Howard is also memorialized at Greenwood Cemetery in Michigan City, IN. After the recovery of remains, two of the crew were buried in the United States: Douglass was buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Coloma, WI. Drewyour was buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot C, grave 221. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard T. Otis NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Charles S. Drewyour NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Coleman D. Ramsey NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Howard G. Spencer USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-26B Marauder 41-17590 "17590 (38th BG, 70th BS) crashed after midair collision with P-39 41-7043 Oct 13, 1942 south of Itai Island, Fiji." Missing Air Crew Report 16411 (MACR 16411) created retroactively Diary of 1st Lt. Conrad A. Ray, pilot 38th Bombardment Group, 70th Bombardment Squadron via Larry Hickey / International Historical Research Associates (IHRA) "13 October 1942 – There is no escaping the fact that as time goes by we are going to leave some of our friends behind forever. The number of them slowly increases. As air plane was being refueled just after landing, I looked out the sea and saw that column of black smoke that always means a plane has crashed. A pursuiter came in from that direction and continuously zoomed the crash boat to start them towards the smoke. Several of our planes took off to investigate and I listened on the radio hoping to hear the reports sent back. When they reached the spot the fire had stopped, leaving two large oil slicks on the water. Dick Otis with Tom O’Conner as co-pilot, ______, Douglas and three gunners were test firing guns low over the water where two 70 Pursuit planes made a pass at them. One [P-39D Airacobra 41-7043] cut the tail from Dick’s plane and both crashed instantly. All that remained to mark the spot was the oil, a little wreckage, sharks and the floating bodies of ______ [Drewyour] and Douglas. The others will probably remain there in the blue water, near a sunken coral reef, 300 yards south of our low, small palm covered target island in Nadi Bay. The loss of Tom and Dick is great to me. We had fun together since joining the Air Corps, and two finer fellows never lived. 14 October 1942 – This morning we flew a squadron formation, practicing formation bombing in preparation for our part in the maneuvers to be held soon. The absense of Dicks plane made a vacant spot in the formation that was very conspicuous. In the afternoon all of us went to the boys funeral in Lantoka. The funeral and burial was in the same places as for Cpl. Piersans. As there it was hard to see them placed in the ground so far from home. I wish so much I could write their folks and answer the questions that will always be in their minds, but the censors wouldn't let it through." American Battle Monuments Commission - Richard T. Otis American Battle Monuments Commission - Thomas O'Connor American Battle Monuments Commission - Coleman D. Ramsey American Battle Monuments Commission - Howard G. Spencer American Battle Monuments Commission - Jack J. Howard FindAGrave - 1Lt Richard Tabor Otis (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Thomas O'Connor (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Merlin Clarence Douglass (grave photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Charles S. Drewyour (grave photo, unit noted as 42nd Bomb Group) FindAGrave - SSgt Coleman Douglas Ramsey (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - PFC Howard G Spencer (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - PFC Howard Spencer (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Pvt Jack J Howard (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Jack J Howard (memorial marker) The Hacking Family - Underwater Pages - Diving Fiji - B-26 Bomber (photo March 2005) Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis 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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 B-26  Photo Archive  MIA 5 Missing  75' / 23m |
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