USAAF
5th AF
3rd BG
90th BS
D. Parer July 2, 1942
Pilot Lt. Ralph L. Schmidt,
O-403818 (Greenville, IL) (MIA)
Co-Pilot F/O Edward Thompson Mobsby, RAAF
407799 (KIA)
Bombardier T/Sgt. Robert L. Barlow, 6922345
(MIA)
Turret Gunner Cpl. Walter N. Cook, 6973551 (MIA)
Radio Cpl. Richard M. Wallace, 7002908 (MIA)
Crashed July 26, 1942
Aircraft History
Assigned to the 3rd BG in April 1942.
Mission History
This aircraft was leading five B-25s from the 13th and 90th Squadrons on a mission from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby, to attack enemy seaplanes anchored off Gasmata, on the south coast of New Britain.
En route the formation was attacked by approximately 10-15 Zeros from the Tainan Kokutai, while they were passing near the Buna area, which had recently been seized by Japanese ground forces. The B-25's jettisoned their bombs and fled for Port Moresby.
This bomber was last seen going down on fire from nose to tail with F/O Mobsby attempting to escape from the top hatch. Crashed approximately 40 miles north-west of Buna. The crew was declared MIA. Two B-25 were lost, including this aircraft and B-25C "Aurora" 41-12792.
Recovery of Remains
Wreckage discovered after the war. The remains of Co-pilot F/O Edward Thompson Mobsby were recovered, and later buried at Bomana
War Cemetery. Also, the remains of three others were recovered.
John
Douglas reports:
"This is a interesting wreck that I have also been looking for
for some time. I was looking about 50 miles away from where its located.
the plane disintegrated at low altitude and the pilot and one gunner survived,
blown clear. The pilot buried three of his crew at the wreck site. The gunner
is still missing. [I think that they are still there] I was in dialogue with
W McCollum. [as a result of PWD
Discussion Page; about this wreck] a nephew of the missing gunner
two or three years ago, but I cant find him electronically now to give
him the news. I will also pass this report on to CILHI."
Relatives
William
W. McCollum (nephew of Walter N. Cook):
"I am the nephew of the gunner cpl Walter N. Cook who remains MIA. In
a newspaper article about a May 15 mission in which my uncle's gun jammed and
it was discovered after landing that a Japanese bullet had gone down the barrel
of his 50 caliber and fused with a bullet. The Mobsby casualty file,
comprising 57 pages, was digitized and is now available on the National
Archives of Australia web site using the search term "Morbsby." The
file was indexed under the incorrect spelling.
My interpretation of the file is that an American graves registration unit located the wreckage of both 41-12792 and 41-12470 in early 1943 and notified the 15th Australian Graves Registration and Engineering unit of their find and the fact that they recovered the remains and identity disc of F/O Edward Thompson Mobsby, as well as three other sets of remains in aircraft wreckage and over a distance of some 800 yards.
The American unit's field report (undated) is somewhat confusing, but it appears that Mobsby's remains were located about 1/4 mile north of the village of Usogi. The report mentions five other cadavers located in the vicinity of Higitura. In the final section it describes an aircraft (41-12792), but doesn't clarify which remains it is associated with. The report appeared to have been prepared by SSgts Halpin and Seaton, who were to go from the site to Popondetta for extraction. Australian authorities contacted Fifth Bomber Command in late May to inquire about their classification of the American crew members of Mobsby's aircraft and received an emphatic response that they were still considered MIA. Mobsby's remains were taken from the site and reburied first at Soputa on May 7 1943, then at Bomana on November 11 1946."
References
Thanks Edward Rogers and Larry Hickey for crew and mission information. Also, William
McCollum for additional information.
B-25
MIA
8.15
147.54
