USAAF
5th AF
19th BG
28th BS
February 23, 1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt William H. Watson, O-416941 (KIA)
Crew 1st Lt John F. Putman, O-413546 (KIA)
Crew 1st Lt James O. Etter, O-434209 (KIA)
Crew S/Sgt Robert A. Abadie, 6296091 (KIA)
Crew T/Sgt Eugene M. Clemens, 6564203 (KIA)
Crew Sgt Leo T. Ranta, 6578753 (survived)
Crew Sgt Robert V. Copley, 6999315 (KIA)
Crew Cpl Philip A. Deal, 6915668 (KIA)
Crew Sgt William H. Parker 6581531 (KIA)
Crashed August 2, 1942
Aircraft History
Accepted to US Army December 1, 1941 and flown by Harry Spieth from
Boeing Field.
Hawaii Service
Flew patrols from Hawaii in January 1942. On January 16th, it claimed a sub found
and sunk.
Australia Service
Ferried from Hawaii to Australia. Possibly Flew the first mission to Rabaul on February 22/23, 1942. On March 12, 1942 flown by Lewis and Carlson
mission to Salamaua claimed one Zero 15 miles north of Port Moresby. Made an emergency landing adjacent to RAAF Sandgate at 5:45pm on April 18, 1942. The B-17 landed on reclaimed land to the north north between the base and the start of the Hornibrook Highway.
Mission History
Aircraft assigned to the 30th Bomb Squadron, but allocated to this crew for this mission. Part of a flight of B-17s searching for a convoy near Buna. Attacked by 10 Zeros at 0915, following which it was shot down. Crashed near Cape Ward Hunt, two to three miles out to sea at approximately 0930 hours. Sgt Ranta was the first one to bail out, and on landing in the sea observed five other parchutes. He attempted to aid S/Sgt Abadie but finally lost him in rough water.
References
Thanks to Aerothentic Publications for additional information.
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Last Updated
November 8, 2009
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B-17 |
