Aircraft History
Second aircraft named "Pluto" following the loss of B-17F "Pluto" 41-24384. Nose art was the Disney character Pluto painted on the side of the nose by Sgt Ernie Vandal.

Mission History
Part of a strike force from the 43rd BG of 14 B-17s and 4 B-24s for attacks on the Japanese airfield at Vunakanau. Take-offs and attacks for this mission were made independently by each plane. "Pluto II" left Dobodura at 0130 on the night of June 30, 1943 and did not return. It was the final B-17 kill of J1N1 Irving piloted by Shigetoshi Kudo, whose attacks accounted for five other 43rd BG planes during May and June. Kudo watched his victim crash into the mountains southeast of Cape Lambert. Other 43rd BG crews reported attacks against their bombers by 'nightfighters' but "Pluto II " was the only bomber lost on the mission.

Wreckage
The location of the crash site is near the village of Kulit on the Gazelle Peninsula, 6 miles inland from Mandres Plantation on New Britain.

Discovered postwar, the crash site was visited by US Army AGRS and excavated during 1948. The team which removed the remains of the entire crew. The presence of a fountain pen at the wreck site helped to identify them.

Brian Bennett adds:
"B17F 41-24543 was visited shortly after its crash by locals and by a Japanese patrol a bit later. Several sets of remains were recovered post war from shallow graves at this site. There is a very good chance that there are still significant remains on site."

Memorial
The crew is interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis Section 84, Site 403-405

Relatives
Liam MacKay (grandson of Sgt. William MacKay)

References
Pride of Seattle page 14
Moonlight Interceptor mentions this loss
Thanks to Steve Birdsall and Edward Rogers for additional information

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Last Updated
November 8, 2009

B-17


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