Pacific Wrecks Forum

Is there any information on my Uncle

Anthony F. Eckhart - he was in the 98th Bomb SQUADRON of the 11th BG.
USAAF
MACR Number 4622 MACR Service Record 0-803954 2LT FOD Page 70
B24 Heavy Bomber S/N 42-73496
Plane went down in the Marshall Islands / Eniwetok in the Central Pacific on May 4, 1944. The crew participated in a bombardment mission to the island of Ponape in the Caroline group and did not return.

Offically listed as dead on Feb 6, 1946 by the War Department
98th Bomber Squadron, 11th Bomber Group, Heavy
Awards: Distinguised Flying Cross, Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
He also, at some time, was a co-pilot on a bomber named Heaven Can Wait, this plane was sponsored and christened by Actor Don Ameche.

Hi there,

Unfortunately I haven't been able to find a great heap of information regarding the loss of B-24J-50-CO 42-73496 as yet. The following are the only crew members I have been able to confirm were aboard the aircraft:

Capt Howard M Bazemore, Jr, O-661581 (MIA)
1/Lt Anthony F Eckhart, O-803954 (MIA)

I checked the ABMC databases for members of the 98th Bomb Squadron also presumed dead on 9-Feb-1946 and returned the following results:

S/Sgt William T Atchley, Jr, 38166968 (MIA)
S/Sgt Alex H Ballard, 34430329 (MIA)
S/Sgt Donald H Beebe, 32674376 (MIA)
1/Lt William S Bowman, O-671270 (MIA)
S/Sgt Robert Merunka, 32516563 (MIA)
1/Lt Emil A Nummi, O-679644 (MIA)
T/Sgt Paul James, 32447984 (MIA)
T/Sgt Harry O Shean, 35303430 (MIA)
1/Lt Arthur W Suojanen, O-799498 (MIA)

In total it would be the right amount of people aboard a B-24. Though I haven't been able to positively confirm this as yet.

Do you have a copy of the MACR?

I have also forwarded these details to Justin so that he can upload a profile of the aircraft. This will most likely be available at:
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b ... 73496.html

Feel free to E-Mail me or continue to post on the forum with any other details/requests you might have.