USAAF
13th AF
307th BG
370th BS

1943

Gary Larkins 1992

Paul Sodemann 1999
Dave Franchina 2001

Justin Taylan 2003

Pilot  Captain Uhner Newman
Co-Pilot  Eugene Marx
Navigator  Jack Newton
Crew  John Knisley
Crew  Henry Wolf
Crew  Silas Bell
Crew  Anthony Chudsik (KIA)
Crew  Wayne Shirley
Crew  George Gathers
Crashed  February 16, 1943

Aircraft History
Delivered to the US Army on September 23, 1942 and that by October 26, 1942 it had moved from Ft. Worth, Texas to Hawaii. The record reflects only five hours of flying time before it is written off the books on June 11, 1945.

Mission History
Took off from Guadalcanal on a night mission, it became lost due to bad weather. The crew spotted islands on radar and presumed their location to be over the Russell Islands. The crew elected to circle and await dawn.

When morning came, they discovered they were over Maravo Lagoon off New Georgia instead. While circling over the lagoon, the engines cut out one by one due to fuel starvation. The entire crew bailed out with the bomber set to auto pilot. The plane continued to circle by itself, gradually loosing height until m crashed on one of the lagoon barrier islands. The only crewman not to survive was Anthony Chudsik.

Wreckage
Located on the northern tip of Ngatokae, in the southeastern part of Marovo Lagoon.

Paul Sodemann reports:
"The wreck is located literally three feet from waters edge near Tibara lodge, on the northern tip of the island in the southeastern part of Marovo Lagoon. According to the locals, the B-24 had been shot up on a mission to Munda and was leaking fuel, not everybody survived the bail out. (Take this info with a grain of salt.) Most parts are easily recognizable, except for the tail which is crumpled up. What amazed me is that the tires in the wheel wells are nearly intact. Guns and instruments have been removed. "

Display
Pieces of the nose art were recovered from the wreckage, and are on display at the Betikama School, near Honiara on Guadalcanal. Displayed on a wall, incorrectly listing this aircraft as "Blondie". Traces of the yellow "Bundles" are visible, and girl in a red dress.

References
Thanks to Jeff Johnson of 5th Bomber Barons for the serial number and nickname of this aircraft. Thanks to Dave Franchina for aircraft history information from Maxwell AFB.

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