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| USN VBP-104  USN 1945 |
Pilot Lt. William E. Goodman, 0-130149 USNR (MIA / KIA) OK Crew Ensign John L. Keidel, 0-351562 USNR (MIA / KIA) WI Crew Ensign Richard S. Knight, 0-351386 USNR (MIA / KIA) York Village, ME Crew AMM3c Elmber G. Krom USNR (MIA / KIA) Crew AMM3c Alvie V. Harris, Jr. USN (MIA / KIA) Crew AMM3c Lloyd M. Howard USNR (MIA / KIA) Crew AMM3c John Bierman USNR (MIA / KIA) Crew ARM3c Sidney Meyer Seifer USN (MIA / KIA) Crew ARM3c Cecil R. Colvin USN (MIA / KIA) Crew AOM3c Vernon L. McCoy USNR (MIA / KIA) Crew AOM3c Samuel H. Newell USN (MIA / KIA) Crew ART3c John J. Polesky, Jr., 8775943 USNR (MIA / KIA) MT MIA February 18, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego. Constructors Number 3808. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-125-CO Liberator serial number 42-110012. Assigned to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PB4Y-1 Liberator Bureau Number 32276. Wartime History Assigned to Patrol Bombing Squadron (VPB-104). Nicknamed "COMAIR WOLFPAC II" in black capital letters on the left side of the nose with the nose art of two cartoon sailors walking towards a brunette woman with both hands behind her head wearing a black bra and black skirt with one leg visible. Mission History On February 18, 1945 at 4:32am took off from Tacloban Airfield on Leyte piloted by Lt. William E. Goodman with crew no. 12 on a search and reconnaissance mission along the east and north coast of Formosa (Taiwan). At 10:46am the their last position report was received placing them about 70 miles north of Formosa. At 2:00pm they were heard on the radio by another search plane but no position was given. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, this PB4Y-1 was likely shot down by a E13A Jake from 901 Kokutai (901 Air Group) that claimed an attacking B-24 [sic PB4Y-1] shot down. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead a year and a day later on February 19, 1946. All are memorialized on at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Goodman earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with Gold Star, Air Medal with two gold stars and Purple Heart, posthumously. Keidel earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Knight earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Riverside Cemetery in Ogunquit, ME. Krom Harris Howard Bierman Seifer Colvin McCoy Newell Polesky earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-125-CO Liberator 42-110012 110007/110016 to USN as PB4Y-1 32271/32280 Navy Serial Number Search Results PB4Y-1 Liberator 32276 32276 (ex USAAF B-24J 42-110012) NARA VBP-104 War Diary February 1945 page 15 (Page 15) "Three officers and nine men, being crew No. 12, took off at 0432(I) on 18 February 1945 for routine search and offensive reconnaissance along the east coast and north of Formosa, from which mission they failed to return to The last position report received placed then about 70 miles north of Formosa at 1046(I). They were heard on the air by another search plane at 1400(I) but no position was given. These officers and men have been reported as missing in action and are as follows: Lieut. Willian E. Goodman, USNR, (130149)..." 901 Kokutai (Air Group) War Diary, February 18, 1945 page 81 "An attacking B-24 was shot down action report no. 13" VPB-104 PB4Y Squadron - Bu 32276 Nose Art American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William E. Goodman FindAGrave - William E. Goodman (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John L. Keidel FindAGrave - ENS John Lee Keidel (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard S. Knight FindAGrave - ENS Richard Smith Knight (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Ens Richard Smith Knight (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Elmber G. Krom FindAGrave - Elmber G. Krom American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alvie V. Harris, Jr. FindAGrave - Alvie V. Harris, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lloyd M. Howard FindAGrave - Lloyd M. Howard American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John Bierman FindAGrave - John Bierman American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Sidney Meyer Seifer FindAGrave - Sidney Meyer Seifer American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Cecil R. Colvin FindAGrave - Cecil R. Colvin American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Vernon L. McCoy FindAGrave - Vernon L. McCoy American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Samuel H. Newell FindAGrave - Samuel H. Newell American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John J. Polesky, Jr. FindAGrave - John J. Polesky, Jr. Thanks to Minoru Kamada 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 June 14, 2026 |
 PB4Y-1  MIA 12 Missing |
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