Pilot Captain Thomas C. Paschal, O-888688 (El Monte, CA)
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt John A. Widsteen, O-691166 (Palo Alto, CA)
Navigator 1st Lt James P. Gullion, O-803142 (Paris, TX)
Bombardier 1st Lt Frank P. Giugliano, O-673063 (New York, NY)
Engineer SSgt Elgin J. Luckenbach 18106009 (Luckenbach, TX)
Ast Engineer S/Sgt Marion B May 38108748 (Amarillo, TX)
Radio S/Sgt Richard F. King 34350910 (Moultrie, GA)
Ast
Radio Sgt Marshall P. Borofsky 16172175 (Chicago, IL)
Gunner S/Sgt Will iam Lowery 15089215 (Republic, PA)
Gunner Sgt Walter G. Harm 33184186 (Philadelphia, PA)
Passenger 2nd Lt Leland A Rehmet, O-752627 (San Antonio, TX)
MIA April 16, 1944 'Black Sunday'
MACR 4512
Aircraft History
Assigned to the 22nd BG, 408th BS in March 1944. This bomber might have been nicknamed "Royal Flush" (uncomfirmed). Engines: R-1830-65 serial numbers: 42-88101, BP425763, 8P-425921, 42-42281
Mission History
After sucessfully bombing Hollandia on the return flight, this
B-24 disappeared in bad weather. It was last sighted out to sea,
north of Saidor. Discovery
A local found the site while hunting wallaby in 2002. Reported to JPAC PNG officer, Brian
Bennett. The crash
site and remains are at 4,500 feet in the Finesterre
Ranges near Kunukio. Discovered only 700 meters from B-24J
42-72946, also lost on the same mission and MIA for 58 years.
Brian Bennett adds:
"A local had come across the wreck while hunting. I had some dispute with that as when i had an oppourtunity to visit the site [PP46] i noted that a tyre on one of the main landing gear had been cut open at one stage[ a long time previously] so that the tube could be cut out [for use as slingshot rubber etc] which mean't that the crash site had probably been known of for some time. My role was telling the CILHI recovery team of the discovery to at least go check out a report of dog tags and some remains in a village.The end result was that the team were led to the site by helicopter., after first visiting another [B-24J
42-72946]. They were on asked by a native 'was the team pleased about the bones n stuff lying around?' when the team leaders said yes the native then asked them if they wanted to see the other aircraft [this B-24] over on the next hill? The result of a visit to this site was that they had two B-24's that went missing on Black Sunday. It is near certain now that both aircraft had joined up so as to fly back to Nadzab."
Recovery of Remains
JPAC mounted a recoverey operation in 2002 to retireve human remains at the site. Among the personal effects they found a bracelette of Sgt Borofsky with 'Always, Edith' inscribed in it. In September 2005, the case was resolved. Eight of the crew were positively identified. The other three will be buried in their hometowns. Bone fragments associated with the crew that could not be positively identified with any of the 11 individual will be buried in at Arlington in a group grave.
Jason Golden adds:
"The remains of Sgt. Marshall Borofsky were positively identified in September [2005]. We have been advised by the Pentagon that Sgt. Borofsky (a third cousin of mine) will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on April 21, 2006 with full military honors. This ID process took three and a half years and was actually expedited with the help of the Committee for Government reform in US Congress. I had a friend inside who was eager to help when I told them of the situation - Sgt. Borofsky's brother is in his mid 70's and had still never known anything about Marshall for 60 years. The family got word in 2002 that the plane was found in PNG, but we were still waiting for a resolution and ID of the remains. The funeral date was set two weeks ago. Hopefully you can get the word out that another soldier from 'Black Sunday' will be coming home."
References
Black Sunday covers this B-24's loss
Revenge of the Red Raiders page 243-244, 507
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