USAAF
5th AF
3rd BG
90th BS
July 13, 1944 Sgt Uhlig
Pilot
2nd
Lt. Gordon K. McCoun
Co-Pilot
F/Sgt
Wilkinson (RAAF)
Radio
Sgt
McCarthy (RAAF)
Passenger
Lt.
Davis
Ditched February 21, 1943
Aircraft History
Built
in Ingelwood, California.
Mission
History
Took off
on a practice bombing mission against the wreck of the SS
Pruth off Port
Moresby. It was armed with
American bombs with Australian fuses. One
of its 300 lbs bombs exploded prematurely when dropped and
damaged both engines. The bomber salvoed its remaining bombs
and made a safe water landing, 25 miles north-west of Port
Moresby near Idihi Island on a reef south-west of Boera. The
entire crew was rescued unhurt.
Wreckage
Today
Wreckage from the aircraft remains to this day, although scattered
by storms that hit the exposed reef where it ditched. The wings
and cockpit have become detached and wreckage spread apart.
References
Wrecks & Reefs pages 123-125.
B-25
