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  B-17E "Craps For The Japs" Serial Number 41-2653  
USAAF
5th AF
43rd BG
65rd BS

Click For Enlargement
43rd BG c1943
Pilot  1st Lt Michael La Porte, O-791123 (MIA / KIA) Mount Vernon, NY
Co-Pilot  2nd Lt Howard L. Munson, O-674612 (MIA / KIA) OH
Bombardier  2nd Lt Gordon R. Spoor, O-7329189 (MIA / KIA) CA
Navigator  2nd Lt William H. Vandergrift, O-797428 (MIA / KIA) NJ
Engineer  T/Sgt Idris T. Jenkins, 39090258 (MIA / KIA) CA
Radio  T/Sgt Alvan B. Rowe Jr., 14038511 (MIA / KIA) GA / FL
Asst Radio / Gunner  S/Sgt Orville B. Severson, 36253506 (MIA / KIA) MN
Gunner  S/Sgt Robert J. Frankenberger, 32144483 (MIA / KIA) NY
Gunner  S/Sgt Ture E. Lindstrom, 32258128 (MIA / KIA) NY
Gunner  S/Sgt Francis W. Neville, 32502049 (MIA / KIA) NJ
MIA  September 2, 1943
MACR  14147

Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2464. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-2653. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS). Nicknamed "Craps For The Japs" with the nose art of a pair of dice.

On November 6, 1942 this B-17 flew General Douglas MacArthur from Australia to 7-Mile Drome at Port Moresby and was photographed on arrival.

Mission History
On September 2, 1943 took off from 7-Mile Drome at Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt Michael La Porte armed with 1,000 pound bombs on a bombing mission against Cape Gloucester Airfield. This B-17 was flying in the first element, no. 3 position. The weather over the target was poor and formation bombed from an altitude of 4,500'.

Over the target, there were both single and twin engine enemy aircraft in the vicinity. Three Ki-45 Nick twin engine fighters from 13th Sentai on a ferry flight from Rabaul to Boram Airfield spotted the B-17 formation and attacked. The lead Ki-45 piloted by WO Mitsugi Hyakutomi with two replacement pilots.

After damaging the lead B-17, Hyakutomi attacked this bomber with cannon fire causing it to dive out of formation emitting black smoke. There were no witnesses to the crash. Some of the other crew members in the formation believed the B-17 crashed into the sea while others thought it crashed at the base of a 7,000' mountain. When this bomber failed to return, the entire crew was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Following the interception, Ki-45 pilot Hyakutomi was damaged by escorting P-38 Lightnings from 49th Fighter Group (49th FG) but managed to return to Rabaul with a shattered canopy, damaged fuel tanks and 127 bullet holes.

Memorials
The entire crew was declared dead on January 14, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

La Porte earned Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is also memorialized at Mount Vernon City Hall in Mount Vernon, NY.

Munson earned Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Spoor earned Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Lakeview Cemetery in Sandpoint, ID.

Vandergrift earned Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Jenkins earned Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Rowe earned Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Manasota Memorial Park in Bradenton, FL.

Severson earned Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has memorial marker at Riverside Cemetery in Lake Bronson, MN.

Frankenberger earned Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Lindstrom earned Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Neville earned Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Relatives
Emanuel A. La Porte (nephew of Michael La Porte)

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E Fortress 41-2653
"2653 (43rd BG, 64th BS) damaged in takeoff accident at Jackson Field, Port Moresby Jun 1, 1943"
Missing Air Crew Report 14147 (MACR 14147) created retroactively circa 1945-1946
The 43rd Bomb Group records states "subject aircraft missing on a mission over Lae".
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Michael La Porte
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Howard L. Munson
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gordon R. Spoor
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William H. Vandergrift
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Idris T. Jenkins
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alvan B. Rowe Jr.
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Orville B. Severson
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert J. Frankenberger
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ture E. Lindstrom
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Francis W. Neville
FindAGrave - 1Lt Michael La Porte (tablets of the missing photos)
FindAGrave - 2Lt Howard L Munson (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - 1Lt Gordon R Spoor (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Lieut Gordon Richard Spoor (memorial photo)
FindAGrave - 2Lt William H Vandergrift (tablets of the missing photos)
FindAGrave - TSgt Idris T Jenkins (tablets of the missing photos)
FindAGrave - TSgt Alvan B Rowe Jr. (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - TSGT Alvan Baker Rowe Jr. (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - SSGT Orville Burton “Buddy” Severson (photos, tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSGT Orville Burton “Buddy” Severson (photos, memorial marker)
FindAGrave - SSgt Robert J Frankenberger (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt Ture E Lindstrom (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - SSgt Francis W Neville (tablets of the missing photo)
News article "Local Bride Receives News Death of Husband"
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-17E Flying Fortress 41-2653
Ken’s Men Against The Empire Vol. 1 (2016) pages 30, 200, 219, 223, 269-271, 321, 325, 327, 329, 341, 343, 366-367

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Last Updated
February 13, 2024

 

Tech Info
B-17

Map
5.27
148.25

MIA
MIA
10 Missing
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