|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 13th AF 5th BG 72nd BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Grant M. Rea, O-684047 (MIA / POW, executed circa September 1944) Montebello, CA Co-Pilot 1st Lt. William H. Moe, O-692807 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Navigator 1st Lt. Henry M. Blanchard II, O-691699 (MIA / KIA) Chattanooga, TN Bombardier 1st Lt. Judd C. Sempel, O-685036 (MIA / KIA) Seattle, WA Engineer TSgt Ernest R. Pennington, 35637050 (MIA / KIA) Charleston, WV Asst. Engineer SSgt Von O. Hedrick, 14165136 (MIA / KIA) Thomasville, NC Radio SSgt Gregory Lecakes, 12128256 (MIA / KIA) New York, NY Asst. Radio SSgt Reuben M. Evans, 34396817 (MIA / KIA) Phoenix City, AL Gunner SSgt Joel M. Matthews, 14128920 (MIA / KIA) Meansville, GA Gunner SSgt Earl R. Curry, 36014451 (MIA / POW, executed circa September 1944) Monmouth, IL MIA August 25, 1944 at 11:32am MACR 8873 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-170-CO Liberator Serial Number 44-40596. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field across the Pacific to the South Pacific. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force, 5th Bombardment Group, 72nd Bombardment Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. This bomber was also known by the last three digits of the serial number "596". When lost, engines R-1830-65A serial numbers BP-440025, BP-441453, BP-440035 and BP-440003. Armed with ten .50 caliber machine guns, weapon makers and serial numbers not listed in Missing Air Crew Report 8873 (MACR 8873). Mission History On August 25, 1944 between 6:59am to 7:04am took off from Wakde Airfield pilot 1st Lt. Grant M. Rea on a bombing mission against Koror Island in Palau. The weather was 2/10 cumulus clouds at 5,000' to 8,000' with slight alto-stratus layer at 10,000'. This B-24 was flying in the last element of the lead squadron as the no. 6 plane. During the bomb run, the formation was targeted by heavy anti-aircraft fire. After bombing the target at 11:23, the formation was intercepted by 8-10 enemy fighters thought to be Zeros. A single Zero attacked from a cloud over the formation and was not spotted before it was diving down on this bomber, hitting it with gunfire and causing a fire. This B-24 was apparently hit in the bomb bay and holes in the elevator and the no. 3 engine on fire. The waist gunners were observed to throw equipment out it before both bailed out. Also, the co-pilot was observed to bail out of the cockpit window, hit the tail rudder and was pulled off when his parachute opened. The bomber appeared to have all engines feathered and nosed down before disappearing into a cloud bank. Another bomber in the formation observed the plane falling out of formation in flames and crashed into the sea at approximately 11:32am at roughly 7° 9' N 134° 46' E into the sea southeast of Koror Island and Babelthuap Island. One piece of wreckage hit a small marsh and a parachute descended into the water and a sea marker was observed after the parachute landed. Two other parachutes were observed but were not seen to land. Fates of the crew The co-pilot and right waist gunner parachuted successfully and landed near the Gadaraku anchorage. Curry was injured in the right arm and on the right side of his back and was captured by a landing craft then treated by the medical officer of the 45th Guard Unit. Rea was captured by Sub Chaser #12. Both became Prisoners of War (POW) and were likely detained at Kempeitai (military police) headquarters. Sometime afterwards or by September 1944 both were executed by the Kempeitai at Ngatpang (Gasupan Hill) on Babelthuap. According to an official Japanese POW report, both prisoners were placed on Uruppu Maru along with three other prisoners: Roeder, MacMahon and Black bound for Davao. This official report was false to cover up their fate. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 27, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Rea earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Moe earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Blanchard earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Sempel earned the Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Pennington earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Mount Alpha Cemetery in Kanawha City, WV. Hedrick earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Rich Fork Baptist Church Cemetery in Thomasville, NC. Lecakes earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Evans earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Parkhill Cemetery in Columbus, GA at plot garden G. Matthews earned the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Fincher Memorial Cemetery in Meansville, GA. Curry earned the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-170-CO Liberator 44-40596 "40596 (5th BG) lost Aug 25, 1944, South Spacific. MACR 8873" Missing Air Crew Report 8873 (MACR 8873) created August 30, 1944 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Grant M. Rea American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William H. Moe Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Henry M. Blanchard II American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Judd C. Sempel American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ernest R. Pennington American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Von O. Hedrick American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gregory Lecakes American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Reuben M. Evans American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joel M. Matthews American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Earl R. Curry FindAGrave - 1Lt Grant M Rea (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1Lt William H Moe, Jr (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1Lt Henry M Blanchard, II (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 1Lt Judd C Sempel (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Ernest R Pennington (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Ernest R Pennington (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Von Odell Hedrick (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Von Odell Hedrick (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Gregory Lecakes (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Reuben M Evans (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Reuben M. Evans (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Joel M Matthews (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSGT Joel M Matthews (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Earl R Curry (tablets of the missing) BentProp "V. P-MAN II Expedition: Proposed Trip Agenda and Goals (2000)" via WayBack Machine Dec 13, 2010 BentProp "P-MAN XI POW Mission Report March 3, 2009 [PDF] page 8 Tia Belau “Search comes up blank” October 27, 2000 "one or possibly two B-24s that the Japanese anti-aircraft guns on 25 August [B-24J 44-40596] and a second on 1 September 1944 [B-24J 42-73453]" Thanks to Pat Scannon for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
|
 B-24  POW / MIA 10 Missing 2 Prisoners |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
