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| USAAF 5th AF 433rd TCG 65th TCS  USAAF 1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Paul A. Bishop, O-672312 (KIA, BR) Wabash, IN Co-Pilot F/O Richmond C. Rosenberg, T-1594 (KIA, BR) Osseo, WI Crew Chief TSgt William E. Farley, 6243571 (WIA, rescued) Indianapolis, IL Radio Sgt Robert E. Kenna, 32287685 (WIA, rescued) Elizabeth, NJ Crashed February 19, 1944 at 4:30pm MACR none Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company at Long Beach. Constructors Number 10260. On September 16, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-47A-60-DL Dakota serial number 42-24398. Ferried overseas via Hickam Feild then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History On November 17, 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 433rd Troop Carrier Group (433rd TCG), 65th Troop Carrier Squadron (65th TCS). Nose number 208. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On February 19, 1944 at 3:58pm took off from Horanda Airfield near Dobodura piloted by 1st Lt. Paul A. Bishop on a flight bound for Finschafen Airfield. At 4:30pm, this C-47 radioed that it was in trouble and was loosing altitude rapidly and was attempting to fly towards the sea. This C-47 crashed in the vicinity of Cape Ward Hunt. When it crashed, two were killed: Bishop and Rosenberg. The other two crew were wounded. The location was observed by crew members aboard a B-24 Liberator and their navigator plotted the location of the crash. Search Afterwards, a Piper L-4 Cub was commandeered and searched the crash area for three days but were unable to spot the crashed C-47. Finally, this aircraft spotted the crash site roughly 10 miles inland in jungle. Circling, the L-4 dropped rations, but did not observe them picked up but saw a small red flag waving from the plane's window. Flying low at tree top height, the flag was observed to be tied to a stick that was being waved. Five days after the crash on February 24, 1944 a rescue team from the U.S. Army attempted to reach the downed aircraft and rescue any survivors before they perished and used a crash boat with a rescue team including medics that proceeded to the mouth of the Opi River but the boat turned back when the boat broke down and they requested a landing craft be sent instead. Meanwhile, the team wandered through 8' tall kunai grass but was unable to trek to the site. Offering to assist, paratroopers from the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment (503rd PIR) led by Major Arthur C. Bass asked for volunteers willing to be parachuted to the crash site. Fifteen volunteered and four paratroopers were selected: T/5 Anthony L. Ausetts of Barberton, OH, Pvt James S. Whitley of Odenville, AL, Pvt Frederick E. Wilson of Lyndhurst, NJ and Pvt Harold E. Zolman of Hadley, MI. The four had been on detached service packing parachutes and were eager for the assignment. They were equipped with stretchers, plasma, sulfa, quinine, splints, water bottles, bandages plus their personal gear. Rescue These four paratroopers were flown to the site and jumped using seat parachutes (versus static line parachutes) and landed within 200 yards of the crash site. Afterwards, a walkie-talkie and medical supplies were dropped and the paratroopers communicated two of the crew were killed in the crash and the other two were injured. One had a fractured skull and the other a fractured arm and leg. Their injuries prevented them from retrieving the rations that were dropped and were starving. Both were given first aid and plasma. Meanwhile, six days after the crash on February 25, 1944 the search team using the landing craft continued to approach the area and cut through kunai grass using native guides and reached them. The two wounded men were carried out by natives on stretchers. At the crash site, Bishop was buried nearby. Rosenberg was not buried because his remains were trapped inside the wreckage. For their efforts rescuing the crew, flight surgeon Lt. Col John E. Gilmore of Santa Monica, CA earned the Silver Star from General Kenney. The four paratroopers who performed the rescue earned the Soldier's Medal. Recovery of Remains Afterwards, a team from the U.S. Army returned and recovered the remains of the two deceased crew members. On March 30, 1944 at 10:30am Bishop was buried at USAF Cemetery Soputa #1B at grave number 119 with a regulation cross. Afterwards, exhumed and reburied on May 8, 1945 at 11:00am at USAF Cemetery Finschhafen #2 at grave 2934 with a regulation cross with identification plate. Memorials Bishop and Rosenberg were both officially declared dead the day of the mission. Bishop is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot A row 9 grave 189. He is also memorialized on the roll of honor at the Wabash Museum. Rosenberg has a memorial marker at Osseo Cemetery in Osseo, WI. Kenna passed away August 18, 1990 at age 70. He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Newark, NJ. References Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Paul A. Bishop NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Paul A. Bishop NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richmond C. Rosenberg USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-47A-60-DL 42-24398 "24398 (MSN 10260) delivered Sep 16, 1943. 5th AF Brisbane Nov 17, 1943. Condemned Feb 20, 1944, accident." 65th Troop Carrier Squadron microfilm frames 1453, 1460 Bulletin of the United States Army Medical Department: October 1945, Volume 4 No. 4 "AWARD OF SOLDIER’S MEDAL The War Department has announced the award of the Soldier's Medal to the following Medical Department personnel Captain Alfred A. Dolgin, D.C. Captain Maurice S. Raben, M.C., of Port Chester, New York. Captain Mitchell Sack, D.C. Captain Charles B. Skinner, M.C., posthumous. Technician Fourth Grade John J. Sullivan, Malden Massachusetts. Technician Fifth Grade Loyd E. Adams, Fort Stockton, Texas. Technician Fifth Grade Anthony L. Ausetts, of Barberton, Ohio. Technician Fifth Grade Paul G. Hutson, of Baltimore, Maryland. Private First Class Reynold A. Barbetti, of Bronx, New York. Private Wesley H. Byrne, of Duncan, Oklahoma. Private First Class Robert M. Koenig, of Brooklyn, New York. Palladium Item "4 Gallant Paratroopers Save Buddies From Death in Jungle" August 25, 1944 The Wabash Museum - Roll of Honor "PAUL A. BISHOP, first lieutenant in the Army Air Corps, who had won the Distinguished Flying Cross for completing more than fifty operational flights with extraordinary achievement, gave his life while on a mission over New Guinea on Feb. 19, 1944. First reported missing, the Wabash flier was later reported killed in action in messages to the wife, Mrs. Jean Smith Bishop, Wabash, and the parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bishop, Wabash. Lt. Bishop was a student of Lagro and Wabash High schools, enlisted June 15, 1942 and went to the southwest Pacific area in June 1943. He was employed at the General Tire and Rubber company. A small daughter, Paula also survives." PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - C-47 Dakota 42-24398 FindAGrave - 1Lt Paul Arden Bishop (photo, grave photo) Nationwide Gravesite Locater - Richmond Clarence Rosenberg lists burial at Osseo Cemetery FindAGrave - Richmond Clarence Rosenberg (photo, memorial marker) FindAGrave - Robert E. Kenna (grave photo) FindAGrave - Anthony L. Ausetts FindAGrave - Harold E Zolman Thanks to Edward Rogers for 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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