USAAF
5th AF
43rd BG
65th BS
Pilot Lt.
Albert A. Turner
Co-Pilot Lt. Warren Lanz
Bombardier Lt. Ludlow Miller
Navigator Travis Gibertson
Engineer John Bartell
Radio Fred A. Taylor, Jr.
Asst. Radio Paul L. Meyers
Nose Gunner Lee W. McGown
Ditched October 28, 1943
Aircraft History
Built for $297,627. It was received by the USAAF on July 17, 1943. Arrived
in Australia around September 28, 1943.
Mission History
When returning from a reconnaissance mission in the Solomon
Sea, along the New Britain coast and bombing Gasmata, this bomber ran
into bad weather over the Owen Stanley Mountains, and diverted towards
Milne Bay. The same weather made landing
their impossible, so the bomber turned back for Port Moresby, but it ran out
of fuel and ditched in Mullins
Harbor. All the crew successfully took to their rafts and were
assisted ashore by locals. A US Navy PBY rescued them the following day.
B-24
