Crew History
Sleeth and O'Brien were members of the 360th Air Service Group, Headquarters.

Aircraft History
Assigned to the 312th Bombardment Group, 388th Bombardment Squadron during February 1944. Nicknamed "Shag On", with a seated woman looking over her shoulder and opening her brassiere. Also "Passionate Peggy" painted on the left gun access panel. Assigned to pilot 2n Lt. M. D. Gentry whose regular gunner was Lyle Ferguson and crew chief SSgt Fry. Based at Gusap Airfield during March - May 1944 flying combat missions, it remained in service with the squadron until October 1944.

Later, transferred to the 8th Service Group, 7th Aerodrome Squadron.

Mission History
Part of a four plane formation assigned to attack installations on the east of Muschu Island at 8:00am. While dropping its bombs, this A-20 disappeared, and a larger column of smoke and fire on the beach and water's edge was observed by the other planes. The cause of the crash was unknown, all were KIA.

A post war interrogation record (AWM 54 1010/9/88) refers to Sgt-Maj TsuTsui Makato from 33 machine cannon company claims to have shot down aircraft.

Memorials
The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission and are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
Wendell Shepard is not listed on AMBC.
Rampage of the Roarin' 20's pages 56, 62 (photo), 198 (color photo), 355, 370 (photo), 374 (photo)

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

A-20

MIA

3.25
143.35