1st Lt Marion L. Wheeler
19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS)
Bombardier B-17F Flying Fortress 41-24427 Missing In Action (MIA) September 15, 1942

Background
Marion Lonner Wheeler was born June 25, 1919 to parents Starlin Thompson Wheeler and Hazel L. (née Lonner) Wheeler in English River Township, Iowa. Later, the family moved to Webster, Iowa.


Wartime History
Prewar, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-412742. Later, promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant. Assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS) as a bombardier.

On January 19, 1942 took off from MacDill Field as a passenger aboard B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2449 piloted by 1st Lt. Harold C. Smelser (7th BG) on a ferry flight via the "Africa Route" bound for the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). The crew included co-pilot 2nd Lt. Robert R. Wilson, navigator 2nd Lt. Moore, bombardier 2nd Lt. Marion L. Wheeler, engineer Sgt Marion C. Taylor, radio Cpl Thomas L. Cotner and assistant radio Pvt Greeg and passenger flight surgeon 1st Lt. Donald D. Davis. The B-17 flew via Belém Airfield in Brazil then across the Atlantic Ocean via Africa and India before reaching Bandoeng Airfield in western Java then to Yogyakarta Airfield arriving at 5:40pm where flight surgeon Davis disembarked. On February 9, 1942 took off on the last leg of the flight with B-17E 41-2484 and after a Japanese air raid lands at Singosari Airfield on Java.

During the Java campaign, Wheeler served as a bombardier aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress piloted by 1st Lt. Harold C. Smelser from 7th BG, 9th BS. As a bombardier during the Java campaign early February 1942 he claimed two transports sunk in the Makassar Strait.

On either February 20, 1942 or February 21, 1942, he flew on a bombing mission against Bali and claimed to bomb and sink a heavy cruiser [sic, none were lost]. On either February 28, 1942 or March 1, 1942 he flew on a bombing mission that engaged a convoy of Japanese ships off Java and claimed to hit them with eight bombs that fell in the middle of the convoy and claimed two ships sunk.

In Australia, began flying bombing missions in New Guinea.

On August 12, 1942 Wheeler flew aboard a B-17 on a bombing mission against Japanese shipping in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. The formation of eight B-17s was attacked by Zero fighters before, during and after the bomb run. Gunners aboard the B-17s claimed three shot down and claimed to sink or badly damage four ships. For his actions on the mission, he earned the Silver Star.

Mission History
On September 15, 1942 at 5:30pm took off as engineer aboard B-17F Flying Fortress 41-24427 from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Captain Robert L. Williams as one of nine B-17s on a night bombing mission against Rabaul. After take off, no further contact was made with this bomber. On September 16, 1942 at 1:30am, when this bomber failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
Wheeler was officially declared dead on January 7, 1946. He earned the Silver Star, Purple Heart, posthumously.

Wheeler is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

He is also has a memorial marker on his parent's grave at Sorden Cemetery in Webster, Iowa.

Relatives
Starlin Thompson Wheeler (father died September 30, 1964)
Hazel L. (née Lonner) Wheeler (mother died February 17, 1975)

References
U.S. Draft Registration Card - Marion L. Wheeler
Donald D. Davis diary via Edmonds
The Sioux City Journal "Credit Iowan with 9 ships" July 9, 1942 page 1
The Gazette "Ace Bombardier, Webster Native, Listed Missing" September 29, 1942 page 11
The River Press "History of 30th Bomb Squadron Compiled by Pyote, Texas, Field" February 24, 1943 page A6
"During the 30th’s turn at an advanced base [7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby] in September [1942], one of the best liked men in the outfit, Capt. R. L. Williams, of Spartanberg, S.C., was lost. He had never run an incomplete mission, in any sense, until he and his crew were reported missing. With Capt. Williams on his last flight were Lts. Robert Wilson of Verona, N.J., Marion Wheeler of Webster, Iowa, and William A. Dietch of Chicago, plus the enlisted crew: Sgts. Thomas L. Cotner of Casper, Wyoming, Glenn Keclic [sic Keclik] of Kansas City, Mo., Ernest Pugh of Hampton, Va., Marion Taylor of Butte, Montana and William . Lewis of Peoria, Ill."
The Daily Nonpareil "Iowa Boys Do Big Job in Pacific" April 12, 1943 page 2
Carrol Daily Times Herald "Many Cited For Bravery In Action" April 12, 1943 page 5
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Marion L. Wheeler
DPAA Personnel File - Marion L. Wheeler
FindAGrave - 1Lt Marion Lonner Wheeler (photo, tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Lieut Marion Lonner Wheeler (photo, memorial marker photo)
Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 132 (Java), 412 (footnote 12) 414 (footnote 3)

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