USAAF
5th AF
90th BG
319th BS

Aerothentic 1944

William N. Swain 1944

Pilot  2nd Lt. Raymond J. Drewelow, O-681356 (Waterloo, IA)
Co-Pilot  2nd Lt. Edward M. Sparks (Alton, KS)
Navigator  2nd Lt. James H. Nelson (Tallulah, LA)
Bombardier  2nd Lt.George R. Ellison (Danville, VA)
Engineer  S.Sgt Joel G. Williams (Meadows of Dan, VA)
Gunner  S.Sgt  Salvatore J. Elhai, Brooklyn, NY)
Gunner  S.Sgt William E. Van Camp, (South Bend, Ind)
Gunner  S.Sgt Arthur J. Swartz Jr., (Aurora, IL)
Gunner  Sgt. Gilbert F. Smith (Princeton, IN)
Gunner  Sgt. Anthony G. Scaccia (New Orleans, LA)
MIA  March 5, 1944
MACR  3307

Mission History
Participated on a bombing mission against Hansa Bay. This bomber and crew disappeared in heavy thunderstorms. No radio transmissions were ever received from the crew, and subsequent searches did not locate them.

Wreckage
Discovered by a group of young explorers from "Operation Drake" in about 1979. They reported finding a large wheel with wreckage, north of Tauta. They did not find a serial number, and in fact reported to the press that they had found a "B-16". Information then remained with the museum to be investigated.

Bruce Hoy then curator of the museum notified US Army CILHI to investigate. No action took place until October 1988, when following a recovery mission in the Wau area, the site was resuscitated.

13 October 1988 - Bruce Hoy, as curator of the PNG Museum, flew to Tauta and met with local officials. Flew to another village nearby called Parimo and spoke to the villagers who had accompanied the folk back in 1979. They agreed to walk up to the site and prepare a helipad.

17 October 1988 - departed late from Lae and circled the mountain where the helipad was to have been constructed at 8.20am. Cloud prevented us finding it. Landed at the village and collected a headman. Again the pad could not be located. Returned to Lae.

18 October, 1988 - pad located but of insufficient width for the helicopter to land. Villagers requested to widen it for our next visit. Team departs Lae for Port Moresby.

CILHI MIA Work At the Site
4 July, 1989, Bruce Hoy, with two CILHI members, landed near the crash-site and established our camp. Rain set in, and we remained in camp for the rest of the day. Very cold with the altitude being 10,500 feet. 5 July, 1989, to the crash-site at 7.55am, reaching it at 8.35am. The crash site is located down the ridge from the camp and covered the south-east section of a ridge. Located the major portions of the wings, right tail fin from which the serial number was recorded, two and possibly three engines and a large portion of the left rear fuselage. Much evidence of disturbance by previous parties including beer cans and wine bottles. Only one large calibre weapon seen. Other portions found included both main landing wheels with tyres, but no apparent evidence of the nose wheel nor forward part of the aircraft. Much wreckage being buried. Hoy identified the aircraft that day from records brought with me on site.

Illegal Removal of Guns
Bruce Hoy recalls from his diary:
"I seem to recall that a report came to me at some time between October 1988 and June 1989 that a group had flown into the newly constructed helipad, and brought out several machine guns. With wine bottles being present, one can only imagine how disrespectful this party treated the site. A helicopter must have been used for beer and wine to have been brought onto the site, as no way would anyone carry these up from the closest village. A large fire had been lit nearby, which fortunately, later proved to have been on sterile ground. [No human remains underneath] Whatever, whoever removed those guns did so illegally, as well they did disturb the site."

MIA Case Resolved
In a November 26 2001 news release, CILHI annoucend that all remains of the crew were identified and returned to their family members.

References
Thanks to Bruce Hoy for this information.
Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group page 104

Contribute Information