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  B-24J-15-CO "Tough Baba" Serial Number 42-73159  
USAAF
10th AF
7th BG
493rd BS

Click For Enlargement
USAAF c1943
Aircraft Commander  Lt. Col Everett C. Plummer, O-300865 10th AF, HQ (MIA / KIA) NJ
Pilot  1st Lt. Granvill B. Stringfellow, O-725549 (MIA / KIA, BR) Des Moines, IA
Navigator  1st Lt. Hugh P. MacPherson, O-660875 (MIA / KIA, BR) Camaron, NC
Bombardier  1st Lt. Lancer W. Robertson, O-727076 (MIA / KIA, BR) Malta, MT
Engineer  TSgt Charles C. Bowen, 1407020288 (MIA / KIA, BR) Osceola, AR
Radio  SSgt Alfonse S. Cieslak, 36301984 (MIA / KIA, BR) Chicago, IL
Asst Engineer  SSgt Henry W. Ley, 11045540 (MIA / KIA, BR) New Haven, CT
Gunner  Cpl George W. Tidd, 14073599 (MIA / KIA, BR) Hendersonville, NC
Asst Radio  SSgt Henry C. Vanis, 37190972 (MIA / KIA. BR) David City, NB
Gunner  SSgt Bertram J. Archer, 12140538 (MIA / KIA. BR) Peekskill, NY
Observer  Captain John W. Lasell, O-219261 (MIA / KIA, BR) Whitinsville, MA
Crashed  December 1, 1943 at 12:30pm
MACR  1233

Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-15-CO Liberator serial number 42-73159. Ferried overseas to India.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 10th Air Force (10th AF), 7th Bombardment Group (7th BG), 493rd Bombardment Squadron (493rd BS). Nicknamed "Tough Baba" with large while "159" on the left side of the nose. When lost, engines R-1830-65 serial numbers 42-88468, 42-89208, 42-89198, 42-91856. Weapon serial numbers are noted in Missing Air Crew Report 1233 (MACR 1233).

Mission History
On December 1, 1943 took off from Pandaveswar Airfield in India leading a formation of B-24s on a bombing mission against Insein north of Rangoon in Burma. After dropping their bombs, this B-24 was hit by anti-aircraft fire causing white smoke to emanate from the no. 3 engine and began loosing altitude. Attacked by 8-10 enemy fighters. Two were observed to bail out, one pulling his parachute instantly, then other delayed opening his shoot, likely to avoid being strafed while descending. The bomber went into a tailspin, dropped about 3000-6000' burst into flames and exploded before crashing. Also lost was B-24J 42-73196 (MIA).

Fates of the Crew
Plummer was officially declared dead on December 9, 1943. It is unclear if the was captured by the Japanese and became a Prisoner Of War (POW) or if he died of wounds or was executed.

Recovery of Remains
Postwar, the remains of the crew were recovered and transported to the United States for permanent burial.

Memorials
Plummer remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. Plummer is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

The crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After the recovery of remains, the crew was buried in a group burial at Jeffeson Barrack National Cemetery at section 79 site 449C-E.

MacPherson also has a memorial marker at Cameron Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Cameron, NC.

Lasell also has a memorial marker at Pine Grove Cemetery in Northbridge, MA.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-15-CO Liberator 42-73159
"73159 (7th BG, 493rd BS, "Tough Baba") shot down by AAA and fighters at Danubya, Burma Dec 1, 1943. MACR 1233. 11 KIA"
Missing Air Crew Report 1233 (MACR 1233)
NARA Records of World War II Prisoners of War does not list any of the crew as official POW of Japan
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Everett C. Plummer
FindAGrave - Granvill B Stringfellow (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - LtCol Everett C Plummer (photos, tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Hugh Pierce MacPherson (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - Lieut Hugh Pierce MacPherson (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - Lancer William Robertson (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - Charles Clay Bowen (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - SSGT Alfonse S Cieslak (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - Henry W Ley (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - Corp George Welling Tidd (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - SSGT Henry George Vanis (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - Bertram J Archer (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - John Whitin Lasell (photos, group burial photo)
FindAGrave - John Whitin Lasell (photos, memorial marker photo)

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Last Updated
December 7, 2022

 

Tech Info
B-24

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
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