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| USN VB-115 |
Pilot Lt. William R. Doerr, 99839 (KIA, BR) Chicago, IL Co-Pilot Captain Bernard L. Johnson, 3283745 (KIA, BR) MN Navigator Ensign Harold E. Barrett, 299685 (KIA, BR) La Crosse, WI Radio Aviation Radioman 2nd Class Robert F. Holman, 3008355 (KIA, BR) MI Engineer Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class John J. Marrapodi, 6466163 (KIA, BR) Assistant Radio Aviation Radioman 3rd Class Rocco C. Capobianco, 6423652 (KIA, BR) Hartford, CT Assistant Engineer Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class John W. Megginson, Jr., 7225312 (KIA, BR) 1st Ordnanceman Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Reno A. Chiste, 3722455 (KIA, BR) WY 2nd Ordnanceman Aviation Ordnanceman 3rd Class Thomas F. Reed, 3120902 (KIA, BR) Gunner Seaman 1st Class Steve C. Burkhart, Jr., 8391532 (KIA, BR) Hopkins County, TX Observer Staff Sergeant Russell E. Hill, 37213907 USAAF (KIA, BR) Crashed April 22, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego. Constructors Number 2979. Assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-40-CO Liberator serial number 42-73409. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PB4Y-1 Liberator bureau number 32222. Wartime History Assigned to Bombing Squadron 115 (VB-115). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On April 22, 1944 took off from Nissan Airfield (Green) on a patrol over Puluwat Atoll (Polowat). Aboard as a weather observer was U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) Staff Sergeant Russell E. Hill, 37213907. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, the bomber reached Puluwat Atoll (Polowat). and made a bomb run against a small ship off ship off western Alet Island and was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into shallow water. Wreckage The wreckage of the bomber remains in situ in shallow water roughly 10' deep. In 2010, the wreckage was rediscovered by Stan Gadja. Recovery of remains Postwar, their remains of the crew were recovered but could not be individually identified. The remains were transported Moem Island then Hawaii and shipped to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. On August 26, 1949 six of the crew: Barrett, Doerr, Hills, Johnson, Marrapodi, Megginson were buried in a group burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 82 site 71. Holman has an unknown burial in Michigan. Capobianco is buried at Mount Saint Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield, CT. Chiste has an unknown burial in Colorado. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-40-CO Liberator 42-73409 "73409 to USN as PB4Y-1 32222." Navy Serial Number Search Results PB4Y-1 Liberator 32222 "32222 (ex USAAF B-24D 42-73409) with VB-115, lost on flight from Green Island to Puluwat atoll Apr 22, 1944. May have been shot down by AAA or fighters during attack on Alet Island." USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List February 1945 - PB4Y-1 Liberator 65294 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List February 1945 - PB4Y-1 Liberator 32222 Tomorrow We Go Out Again (2017) by Martha Burkhart Collins Delaware's World War II Fallen - Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class John W. Megginson, Jr. (1924–1944) FindAGrave - LT William Richard Doerr (photo, news, group burial photos) FindAGrave - CAPT Bernard Leroy Johnson (photo, group burial photos) FindAGrave - ENS Harold Elsworth Barrett (photo, group burial photos) FindAGrave - AMM2 John James Marrapodi (photo, group burial photos) FindAGrave - ARM3 Rocco Charles Capobianco (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - AMM3c John Wise Megginson Jr. (photo, group burial photos) FindAGrave - AOM2 Reno Anthony Chiste (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - AOM3 Thomas Franklin Reed (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - S1 Steve Campbell Burkhart Jr. (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Russell E Hill (group burial photo) SV Soggy Paws Identifying WWII US and Japanese Planes [PDF] by David McCampbell pages 85-89 SV Soggy Paws Exploring WWII Relics Southern Micronesia [PDF] by David & Sherry McCampbell pages 159-164 Delaware's World War II Fallen "Aviation Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class John W. Megginson, Jr. (1924–1944)" by Lowell Silverman October 2, 2022 Thanks to Stan Gadja and David McCampbell and Sherry McCampbell 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 March 23, 2023 |
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