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| USAAF 5th AF 3rd BG 8th BS  James P. Larronde 1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt Robert E. Cassels, O-421609
(MIA / KIA) IL Gunner Sgt Loree L. Le Boeuf, 6971026 (MIA / KIA) LA Crashed July 29, 1942 MARC none Aircraft History Built by Douglas. Constructors Number unknown. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) A-24 Dive Bomber serial number unknown 41-15??? (last three digits unknown). On October 21, 1941 at Savannah, GA. On January 2, 1942 assigned to Project "X". On January 7, 1942 at McCellan Airfield. On January 8, 1942 disassembled and shipped overseas to "Sumac" Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 8th Bombardment Squadron (8th BS). This aircraft had an unknown tail number (two digits). No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On July 29, 1942 one of eight A-24s that took off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Cassels on a mission to dive bomb Japanese ships off Gona. They were escorted by P-39 Airacobras from the 41st Fighter Squadron flying top cover, and 8th Fighter Group, 80th Fighter Squadron P-39s flying close escort. Inbound to the target, one A-24 aborted the mission, and seven remaining A-24s proceeded to bomb Japanese transports 20 miles north of Gona, 1 1/4 miles form shore. The convoy was protected by A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kōkūtai which intercepted the A-24s as they started their dives. The A-24s dive-bombed in two waves. The first wave: A-24 41-15797 (shot down), A-24 piloted by Hill (heavily damaged and force lands at Fall River) and A-24 piloted by Raymond Wilkins (the only aircraft to return to 7-Mile). The second wave: A-24 41-15819, A-24 41-15766, A-24 piloted by Cassels (this aircraft) and A-24 piloted by Parker all four were shot down. The Kotoku Maru, was hit once at the No. 5 hatch by the second wave, forcing its troops to unload and leave its cargo undelivered. The Japanese ships all return to Lae. Memorials Both crew were officially declared dead on December 1, 1945. Both are memorialized at Manila American Cemeteryon the tablets of the missing. Cassels has a memorial marker at Catholic Cemetery of La Crosse in La Crosse, WI. Relatives Are you a relative of Cassels or Le Boeuf? Contact Us Richard Hagman (nephew of Cassels) Reference USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-24-DE Dauntless "USAAF version of SBD-3" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert E. Cassels American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Loree L. Le Boeuf FindAGrave - 1Lt Robert E Cassels (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Robert Cassels (memorial marker) FindAGrave - Sgt Loree L Le Boeuf (tablets of the missing) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - A-24 Dauntless piloted by Cassels (lists serial number 41-15798 incorrectly) Thanks to Edward Rogers 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-24  MIA 2 Missing |
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