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| USN FAW-2 VB-200  USN 1943 |
Pilot Lt. Richard J. O'Donnell (MIA / KIA) Cincinnati, OH MIA March 22, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego as model 32. Constructors Number 2976. Assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-40-CO Liberator serial number 42-73406. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PB4Y-1 Liberator bureau number 32219. Wartime History Assigned to Fleet Air Wing 2 (FAW-2), Bombing Squadron 200 (VB-200). No known nickname or nose art. This bomber was to be ferried by the squadron from NAS Kaneohe across the Pacific bound for the South Pacific (SoPAC) for delivery to Bombing Squadron 106 (VB-106) but went missing on the last leg of the flight. Mission History On March 22, 1944 took off from Guadalcanal piloted by Lt. Richard J. O'Donnell on the last leg of a ferry flight bound for Munda Airfield on New Georgia for delivery to Bombing Squadron 106 (VB-106). When this bomber failed to arrive it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The enter crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. As the mission was non-combat, none of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. O'Donnell is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Calvary Cemetery in C, OH at section A, lot 33 row 8. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D Liberator 42-73406 Navy Serial Number Search Results PB4Y-1 Liberator 32219 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List May 1944 - PB4Y-1 Liberator 32219 NARA VB-200 War Diary April 1944 page 1 NARA VB-106 War History page 5 (Page 5) "Planes - (Cont'd) In addition, BuNo. 32219, being ferried from Kaneohe, T.H. by VB-200 for delivery to this squadron at Munda, was lost enroute between Guadalcanal and Munda and never delivered." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard J. O'Donnell FindAGrave - LT Richard James O'Donnell (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Richard James O'Donnell (photo, memorial marker photo) The Cincinnati Enquirer "Missing Flier In Roster of Five From Hamilton County Who Lost Lives... Lt. Richard J. O'Donnell" November 21, 1944 page 12 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated January 4, 2026 |
 PB4Y-1  MIA 6 Missing |
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