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| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 321st BS  90th BG 1943 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Herman L. Richardson, O-522725 (KIA, BR) Sour Lake, TX Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. William F. Munzinger, O-794843 (KIA, BR) Rochester, NY Crew 2nd Lt. Francis H. Paronto, O-740268 (KIA, BR) WaKeeney, KS Crew 2nd Lt. Henry W. Schnelle, O-734750 (KIA, BR) Ohio County, WV Crew TSgt Ralph W. Schooley, Jr., 39240499 (KIA, BR) IA Crew SSgt John M. Donley, 39173318 (KIA, BR) OR Crew TSgt John Medovic, 35512039 (KIA, BR) Cleveland, OH Crew SSgt Joseph D. Oden, 18043601 (KIA, BR) AZ Crew SSgt Walter J. Stankiewicz, 13100130 (KIA, BR) PA Crew SSgt Philip F. Sabra, 11050895 (KIA, BR) Bristol County, MA Crashed July 12, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 1014. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-20-CO Liberator serial number 41-24219. Ferried overseas piloted by Lt. Edward R. Goff via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG), 321st Bombardment Squadron (321st BS). Nicknamed "Seafood Mama" in block letters with the nose art of a mermaid holding an aerial bomb with two rings near the nose of the bomb in her left hand. On the left side of the nose was a scoreboard with six bomb markings indicating bombing missions flown. Mission History On July 11, 1942 before midnight took off from 5 Mile Drome (Ward) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Herman L. Richardson on a night bombing mission against Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul. This was the first combat mission flown by the crew. On July 12, 1943 after midnight while crossing the Owen Stanley Range, this bomber crashed near Kosirova in New Guinea. Another bomber in the formation observed an explosion that was likely the crash of this bomber. When this plane failed to return, the entire crew were listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Recovery of Remains During November 1944 or December 1944 the crash site was found and the remains of the crew were recovered. On December 18, 1944 the recovered remains were buried at Soputa War Cemetery (USAF Cemetery Soputa, USAF Cemetery Cemetery Soputa #1B). Postwar, the remains of the crew were disinterred and transported to the Philippines and United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Each member of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Richardson is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot L row 17 grave 31. Munzinger is buried at Long Island National Cemetery at plot H, grave 8625. Paronto is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot A row 12 grave 121. Schnelle is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot A row 6 grave 165. Schooley is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot B row 6 grave 109. Donley is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot N row 4 grave 36. Medovic is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot A row 14 grave 189. Oden is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot A row 1 grave 189. Stankiewicz is buried at Holy Family Cemetery in Sugar Notch, PA. Sabra was buried January 19, 1950 at Arlington National Cemetery at plot 34, site 4782. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Herman L. Richardson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William F. Munzinger NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Francis H. Paronto NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Henry W. Schnelle NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Ralph W. Schooley, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John M. Donley NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John Medovic NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Joseph D. Oden NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Walter J. Stankiewicz NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Philip F. Sabra USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-20-CO Liberator 41-24219 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24 Liberator 41-24219 lists location as "Kosirova" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Herman L. Richardson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Francis H. Paronto American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Henry W. Schnelle American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ralph W. Schooley Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John M. Donley American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John Medovic American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph D. Oden FindAGrave - 2Lt Herman L Richardson (photos, grave photo) FindAGrave - Lieut William F Munzinger (grave photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Francis Holmes Paronto (grave photos) FindAGrave - 2Lt Henry W Schnelle (Manila American Cemetery grave) FindAGrave - TSgt Ralph W Schooley, Jr (grave photo) FindAGrave - SSgt John M Donley (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - TSGT John Medovic (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Joseph D. Oden (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Walter J Stankiewicz (Holy Family Cemetery) Arlington National Cemetery ANC Explorer - Philip F. Sabra (grave photos) FindAGrave - Philip F Sabra (grave photo) Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group (1997) pages 67-68 (July 11-12, 1943), 207 (index Seafood Mama) (Page 67) "As the ships [B-24s] crossed the range [Owen Stanley Range] on the night of the 12th [July] Herb Goodrich noted in his diary that an explosion was seen about 30 miles ahead of them." (Page 68) "The explosion was probably the aircraft flown by 2nd Lt. Herman L. Richardson of the 321st Squadron." 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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