Aircraft History
Assigned to the 5th Bombardment Group, 31st Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed "Dropsnoot". Engines P-1830-43 serial numbers 42-41246, 41-. Ten 50 caliber Machine Gun serial numbers unavailable.

Mission History
Took off from Momote Airfield in the first element #3 position. on a strike against Eten Island at Truk Lagoon. 25 minutes from the target, at 1040, Finks reported that he was returning to base. Finks called for a bearing at 1530 and was given a course of 95 degrees, but was not heard from again. Last seen in the Hermit Island (north of New Guinea), 250km north-east of the Sepik River mouth.

The entire crew bailed out from 1,800' at approximately 1600 over Mingo Island, when the engines began to cut out due to fuel shortage. All parachutes opened, and the crew bailed out over four minutes, landing in an area of approximately two miles in the vicinity of six miles south-east of Jalun Island, landing in rough seas with whitecaps.

Fates of the Crew
Several of the crew were could not swim, and likely drown, never reaching land. The rest of the crew assembled on Hermet island, and assisted each other reaching land. Three days later, they located friendly natives who provide them food and shelter. Together, the crew searched the outer atoll area for the missing men using a native canoe.

Rescue
Fourteen days after bailing out, (other sources state 9 days later) they were rescued by a PBY Catalina, that had sighted them the day before. The PBY searched the entire atoll for the missing crew members, without success, then returned to their base in the Admiralties where they were debriefed.

Memorials
The dead crew members are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

B-24


MIA
(Four MIA)