|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USN VB-101 Formally VP-51 |
Pilot Lt(jg) Donald H. Lehman, O-146519 (MIA / KIA) San Diego, CA Co-Pilot Lt(jg) Howard R. May, O-106186 (MIA / KIA) Holtville, CA Crew Ensign Charles Edward Heintzelman Jr., O-157307 (MIA / KIA) Massillon, OH Crew Ensign Joseph F. Winters, O-125232 (MIA / KIA) Centerville, Illinois Crew AR1c Gerald T. Granat, 3822054 (MIA / KIA) Studio City, CA Crew AMM1c Fernando P. Spadoni, 2125324 (MIA / KIA) Hopedale, MA Crew AO2c Anthony N. Cortese, 2506452 (MIA / KIA) Dunbar, PA Crew AMM2c Arthur J. Valhusky, 3722907 (MIA / KIA) Rock Springs, WY Crew AMM2c William E. Webber, 2686058 (MIA / KIA) Lyons , GA Crew AR2c George C. Wilson, 4051004 (MIA / KIA) Oakly, NJ Crew AMM3c Hulin O. Moore, 3825595 (MIA / KIA) San Bernardino, CA Crew AO2c John J. Colby, 2240632 (MIA / KIA) New York, NY MIA March 5, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-15-CO Liberator serial number 41-24050. Assigned to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PB4Y-1 Liberator bureau number 31947. Wartime History Assigned Patrol Squadron 51 (VP-51). Squadron Number 51-P-3. No known nickname or nose art. On February 1, 1943 redesignated Bombing Squadron 101 (VB-101). On January 13, 1943 took off piloted by Lt. Stuart T. Cooper with AMM2c James J. Curry plus six others on a flight that lasted 0.2 hours. Mission History On March 5, 1943 at 1:30am took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal piloted by Lt(jg) Donald H. Lehman as one of nine bombers on a mission to bomb Japanese shipping in Tonolei Harbor near Buin (Kahili) on southern Bougainville. Five PB4Y1s were armed with twenty flares each. The other four PB4Y-1s were armed with eight 500 pound bombs each. Over the target, five with flares flew along the southern coast of Bougainville and released them from an altitude of 14,000' to 10,000' at half mile intervals to illuminate the area from Buin to Tonolei Harbor with each set to ignite at 3,000' to illuminated the area during 4:00am to 4:20am. Meanwhile, the four with bombs made bomb runs over the illuminated area but failed to spot any ships. Although visibility was unrestricted, except for the darkness and a slight haze over southern coast of Bougainville, no Japanese ships were observed. Several searchlights switched on in the Buin to Kahili area and light anti-aircraft fire was noted. Returning, two of the PB4Y-1 Liberators armed with bombs flew to Ballale Island to release their ordnance. One bombed the eastern end from 7,000'. The other bombed from 8,000' and missed with its bombs falling into the sea. During their attacks, a searchlight from Ballale Island came on and several bursts of anti-aircraft fire were observed. When this bomber failed to return the entire crew was declared Missing In Action (MIA). Officially, this PB4Y-1 was stricken off charge (SOC) on March 26, 1943. Also lost was PB4Y-1 31948 (MIA) pilot Lt. Frank M. Fisler. On the return flight, one of the PB4Y-1s that returned observed a large fire, with pieces falling off around 1,200' between Cape Esperance and the Russell Islands. Possibly, this was related to the loss of one or both the missing bombers. The other seven PB4Y-1s landed at Henderson Field between 6:15am to 7:00am. Memorials The crew was officially declared dead on December 10, 1945. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. The crew was also memorialized on memorial to Patrol Squadron VP 11/54/51, VB 101, PATSU 1-2 at Bomber 2 Airfield on Espiritu Santo. Lehman also has a memorial marker at Violett Cemetery in Goshen, IN at plot new north, row 34, lot 412. Heintzelman also has a memorial marker at Union Lawn Cemetery in Navarre, OH. Valhusky also has a memorial marker at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Riverton, WY. He also has another memorial marker at Mount Hope Cemetery in Lander, WY. Webber also has a memorial at Hardens Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery in Johnson Corner, GA. References Note, many published sources and some wartime records incorrectly give the date of losses as March 3, 1943. Jim Sawruk adds: "Lehman and crew came from VB-102 as replacements. Two crews were sent from them and appear as VP-51 crews in the records." USAF Serial Number Search Results B-24D-15-CO Liberator 41-24050 to US Navy as PB4Y-1 BuNo 31947 Navy Serial Number Search Results PB4Y-1 Liberator 31947 (ex B-24D 41-24050) SOC Mar 26, 1943 with VB-101 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List March 1943 "3/5/43 PB4Y-1 31947 VB-101" Flight Log Book, AMM2c James J. Curry from USN VP-51 via Bill Petrolino flights aboard "31947" January 13, 1943 NARA VB-101 Action Report March 5, 1943 page 1 "Strike: Primary target shipping Buin - Kahili. Secondary targets - Kahili, Ballale, Villa, Munda Airfields. Nine PB4Y1s took off Henderson Field, Cactus 0105 to 01030 L." NARA "MAW-2 War Diary - March, 1943" pages 36-35 “March 5, 1943: Operations: of 9 PB4Y’s out, 2 failed to return. These 2 apparently set off large fires at Kihili [sic] at 0400.” Wakarusa Tribune "Goshen Pilot Declared Dead" January 10, 1946 "Goshen - Lt Donald H. Lehman who was reported missing in action in the Pacific March 5, 1943, is now presumed died, according to a letter received Saturday by his mother, Mrs. Naomi J Lehman, from Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal. Lt Lehman was pilot of a navy Liberator bomber. Although he had been on the list of missing for almost 3 years the letter received Saturday gave the first official details of the circumstances surrounding Lt Lehman's disappearance. The letter said: 'In the early morning of March 5, 1943 the plane in which your son was flying took off from Henderson field, Guadalcanal, in a flight of 9 bombing planes, to participate in a strike against enemy shipping inn the Buin-Kahili (Bougainville) area. The weather at the time was good and visibility was clear. Some of the planes dropped flares over the target area, and when enemy searchlights came on, light anti-aircraft fire was encountered. After making runs over the illuminated area the planes proceeded to Ballale. In the mist of intense enemy anti-aircraft fire, many bombs were dropped on the target. It is believed that the plane in which your son was flying was hit and crashed.' Lt Lehman's wife and daughter, Jean, are now living in San Diego, Cal." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald H. Lehman American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Howard R. May American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles E. Heintzelman Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph F. Winters American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gerald T. Granat American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Fernando P. Spadoni American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Anthony N. Cortese American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Arthur J. Valhusky American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William E. Webber American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George C. Wilson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Hulin O. Moore American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John J. Colby FindAGrave - LtJG Donald H Lehman (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Donald H Lehman (obituary) FindAGrave - Donald H Lehman (memorials photo) FindAGrave - LtJG Howard R May (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Ens Charles E J Heintzelman (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Charles E. Heintzelman, Jr (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Ens Joseph F Winters (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - ARM1 Gerald T Granat (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AMM1 Fernando P Spadoni (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AOM2 Anthony N Cortese (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AMM2 Arthur J Valhusky (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Arthur J Valhusky (Odd Fellows Cemetery memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Arthur J. Valhusky (Mount Hope Cemetery memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - AMM2 William E Webber (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - William E. Webber (memorial marker photos) FindAGrave - ARM2 George C Wilson (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AMM3 Hulin O Moore (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AOM2 John J Colby (tablets of the missing) We Flew Alone (2000) by Alan C. Carey pages 14, 101 (appendix A) Thanks to Richard Dunn, Edward Rogers and Jim Sawruk 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 January 10, 2022 |
 PB4Y-1  MIA 12 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
