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| USAAF 5th AF 312th BG 388th BS   Justin Taylan 2005 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Albert E. Jesser, Jr. (survived) Philadelphia, PA Passenger Pfc Harry S. Scott, 16038889 27th Air Depot Group, 27th Repair Squadron (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Passenger Pvt Charles E. Hackman, 36058243 27th Air Depot Group, HQ Sqadron (MIA / KIA) Peoria, IL Crashed March 18, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. On December 15, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-20G-30-DO Havoc serial number 43-9626. On January 11, 1944 disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History During February 1944 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG) "Roarin' 20's", 389th Bombardment Squadron (389th BS). No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On March 18, 1944 took off from Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Albert E. Jesser, Jr. on a local flight over Port Moresby. Aboard were two passengers from the 27th Air Depot Group (27th ADG) Pfc Harry S. Scott and Pvt Charles E. Hackman. For unknown reasons, this A-20 crashed into the northwest of Fairfax Harbor near Motukea Island. Fates of the Crew Both passengers were killed in the crash and their bodies were never recovered and remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Pilot Jesser survived the crash and returned to duty. Wreckage The crash site including both engines remains in shallow water in the northwest of Fairfax Harbor near Motukea Island and mangrove swamps along the shoreline. Ray Fairfield visited this site in the 1960s: "I have been out, wading and snorkeling, to that A-20 wreck [this aircraft]. I wasn't able to find an identity, but the external nose guns and armor were there in the mud." Memorials Scott and Hackman were officially declared dead the day of the mission. As the flight was non-combat neither earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Both remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Both are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Jesser passed away August 29, 1991 at age 76. He is buried at Green Hills Memorial Park in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA at Tranquility Terrace at 10, 17. Relatives Lani Chance (daughter of Hackman) "My father was Pvt Charles Hackman wondering if any additional information is available about crash causes etc. I have been searching the web for additional info but keep hitting dead ends." Kristin Seifried (grandfather of Hackman) "My grandfather was Pvt Charles Eattle Hackman from Peoria, Illinois." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Albert E. Jesser Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harry S. Scott NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Charles Hackman USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-20G-30-DO Havoc 43-9626 "9626 in accident Mar 19, 1944" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harry S. Scott American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles E. Hackman FindAGrave - PFC Harry S Scott (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Pvt Charles E Hackman (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Albert Edward Jesser, Jr PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - A-20G Havoc 43-9626 Wrecks & Reefs pages 10 (map), 120-121 Rampage of the Roarin' 20's (2009) pages 360 (42-9626, 388th BS), 407 (index Jesser) Thanks to Ray Fairfield 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
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 A-20  MIA 2 Missing  0-5m |
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