USAAF
5th AF
6th PRG
20th CMS

1944




Chris Breuer 2002

Pilot  1st Lt Loren G Barstow, O-675387 (2nd Mission)
Co-Pilot  2nd Lt Jack S Connor, O-729317
Navigator  2nd Lt Douglas H Puck, O-734599
Engineer  S/Sgt Edwin R Maillie, 17071379
Radio  S/Sgt Harold M Valentine, 34029885
Photographer  S/Sgt Leonard Diamond, 11073297
Gunner  Sgt John W Schmitt, 14085521
Gunner  Sgt George M Harvey, 13088758
Gunner  Sgt Stephen J Boudreaux, 38380560
Gunner  S/Sgt Luis Degollado, 18057572
Gunner  S/Sgt George Dick, 33245475
Crashed  May 22, 1944 at approximately 04:00am

Aircraft History
Painted in a ‘blue or no blue’ scheme which was thought to be superior camouflage. Departed USA November 3, 1944 and flown across the Pacific, arriving at Townsville. Arrived at Port Moresby on February 4, 1944, then sent to Nadzab arriving on March , 1944. In late May 1944 it was stripped to natural metal finish.

Mission History
Took off from Nadzab. Observed circling to the left in the valley northwest of Nadzab, about 10 minutes after take-off, at an altitude of about 5,000'. There were two other F-7As in the formation, which had been assigned to photograph Padaidori Island for mapping. It crashed on Mount Wilhelm at an altitude of about 13,000'.

Wreckage
Lt. Col. David W. Ecoff Sr. (pilot of the 20th CMS) recalls:
"The remains of the crew were recovered by Ralph Bowley, our Intelligence Officer and buried at the Nadzab Cemetery with honors."

The wreckage of this aircraft is still present on Mt. Wilhelm, in the vicinity of Keglsugl.

Chris Breuer reports:
"The terrain is very rocky so the plane has been destroyed along with all the things that have been stolen from it in the past years."

Contribute Information

F7A