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| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 71st BS   38th BG c1942   Dan Gillan 2007 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Terrence J. Carey, O-433651 (POW, KIA executed) Fargo, ND Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Lauren S. Meader, O-725629 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA Navigator 2nd Lt. Philip E. Germain, O-437349 (MIA / KIA) Wallingford, CT Bombardier 2nd Lt. Kenneth M. Caisse, O-659517 (MIA / KIA) Portland, OR Radio-Gunner Sgt Paul D. McElroy, 14036314 (MIA / KIA) GA Gunner Pfc Richard J. Conlon, 37081314 (MIA / KIA) ND Photographer S/Sgt John A. Pagliuso, 6976910 405th BS (MIA / KIA) NY Crashed October 5, 1942 at 8:00am MARC 15077 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-7866. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D Mitchell serial number 41-29701. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) "Sun Setters", 71st Bombardment Squadron (71st BS) "The Wolf Pack". Nicknamed "Battlin' Biffy" with the nose art of Walt Disney's Big Bad Wolf's head inside a white circle. On September 5, 1942 took off from Horn Island Airfield on a flight to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby to stage for a bombing mission against Buna. After landing at 7 Mile Drome, this B-25 experienced engine trouble before take off and was grounded. Mission History On October 5, 1942 at 7:00am took off from 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Terrence J. Carey armed with 500 pound bombs along with B-25C "Tokyo Sleeper" 41-12905. Their mission was to fly a patrol to the north coast of New Guinea from Cape Waria to Oro Bay. Afterwards, the pair were to strafe and bomb the track and bridge at Wairopi and finally drop medical supplies to Australian Army troops near Sangai. P-39 Airacobras were to escort the bombers but they never rendezvous and the pair proceeded without them. Outbound, the bombers reached the north coast of New Guinea and patrolled over the sea off Buna and spotted smoke from "two Japanese destroyers escorting a large transport and immediately went for the attack after radioing the position of the ships". In fact, the two destroyers were escorting Yamaura Maru. Unseen, eighteen A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kokutai and 3rd Kokutai were escorting the convoy as top cover. This B-25 attempted to make a bomb run from 4,000' but was intercepted by six Zeros that began making firing passes from the rear. It is unknown if it released any bombs. The Japanese Zeros claimed one B-25 shot down (this aircraft) during the mission. Last seen in a steep dive trying to escape and was never seen again. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, this bomber crash near Uhita to the west of Popondetta inland from the north coast of New Guinea. Fates of the Crew Two of the crew survived the crash or managed to bail out. Both were executed by the Japanese or New Guinea natives. The other five crew likely died in the bomber or were killed on impact. One of the survivors, believed to be Carey was led to Higaturu and beheaded by the Japanese or a New Guinea native named Parere. His remains were buried in a shallow grave. After the Allies reoccupied the area, natives told the Australian authorities they visited the aircraft crash site and found two of the crew alive. Parere was apprehended, tried and executed by the Australian administration for the crime of murder of an Allied airman. Recovery of Remains After the Allied occupation of the area the wreckage of a burned out Allied plane (probably American) was discovered near the village of Soroputa. The captured Japanese diary of Kurazo Uchida a member of the Japanese Army, 15th Pioneers noted on October 5, 1942 that a twin enemy aircraft was "shot down 1,000 meters from our work area. Only one body [was found] others seem to be in the ground". Eight machine guns were recovered from the crash." An isolated shallow grave was found containing a headless skeleton "in the vicinity of Soroputa" no personal belongings were found with the remains. Nearby, but not associated with the grave was Lt. Carey's officer identification bracelet. These remains were disinterred and designated unknown X-133 and temporarily in the USAF Cemetery Finschafen No. 2 (Finschafen Cemetery) at grave 3492. Although the remains were believed to be Lt. Carey, but were apparently lost by the US Army or accidentally buried as an unknown, as he is still listed as Missing In Action (MIA) today. The fates of the remainder of the crew has never been determined. On June 29, 1949 they were officially declared non-recoverable. All are still listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage This B-25 crashed near Uhita in the vicinity of Awala. That same day, native people visited the crash site. Later that same day, Japanese personnel from the Japanese Army 15th Pioneers personnel visited the crash site and recovered eight machine guns. After the Allies occupied the area, the crash site was investigated by the U.S. Army and noted "the wreckage of a burned out Allied plane (probably American) was discovered near the village of Soroputa" At the time, natives claimed two parachutes were still in the trees, but they could not be located. They also claimed two of the crew were found alive and one (Carey) was taken alive to Higaturu and never seen again. During April 1986, David Pennefather rediscovered the crash site and noted the tail with serial number ending in "701". He reported the site to Bruce Hoy, PNG Museum who relayed the discovery to US Army CILHI via a letter. On December 15, 1986 the crash site was surveyed by a team from US Army CILHI including Sgt Nash and Sgt Baughman. They were shown the wreckage and told of a burial site. The report concluded, "It is suggested that the recommendation of Mr Hoy to consider the crash site as a war grave continue until further research and documentation can be obtained from the Casualty Data Section, USA CILHI." During early November 2007, the crash site was found again by Paul Ekman and Daniel Gillan and identified by the tail serial number ending in "701". Daniel Gillan adds: "During our visit to Awala. (My old house was the site owned by Clen Searle and used by the Army as a base during WWII) where I grew up in the 1980’s we were told of a plane wreck not far from where I was staying. As I find WWII wrecks rather interesting I asked for a look. The land belongs to a friend of mine and so of course was not a problem. The wreck was half an hour walk in from the road at Soputa. It appears that the plane has come in from Buna direction and slammed into the side of a small hill. My friends have a garden there and as they have been turning the soil have uncovered many pieces of wreckage. The two engines, tail rudder and one wing are the largest pieces above ground. It appears that the plane has exploded on impact and strewn wreckage within reasonably a small area. We were unable to find the fuselage, however the land owner advised us that it is buried in the soft ground." On November 13, 2007 Cyclone Guba made landfall in Oro Province causing torrential rains and flooding. Afterwards, most of the wreckage was covered by sediment from landslides. Likely, the site will be uncovered in the future due to erosion. During July 2010 a team from JPAC landed nearby by helicopter and performed an investigation at the crash site including the use of a metal detector. Today, the crash site of this B-25 is located on the south side of the Kokoda Highway road near Uhita in the vicinity of Awala. Caisse Dog Tag During the 2000's, the dog tag of crew member 2nd Lt. Kenneth M. Caisse, O-659517 was found the Munda area. It is unclear how or why this dog tag ended up in this location. Possibly, it was carried there by an American service personnel during the war and accidentally dropped. Shane Elliott adds: "I was given the Caisse dog tag off Brian Daga of Dive Munda, his father John Vikili had found the dog tag in the Munda area some years ago. In early 2010 I returned the dog tag to Lt. Caisse relations in the United States. I was told by his nephew his birthday was Dec. 7th." Memorials Carey was officially declared dead on September 12, 1944. The rest of the crew were officially declared dead on December 12, 1945. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Carey was officially declared dead on September 12, 1944. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Meader earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Germain earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, Distinguished Unit Citation, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button, Connecticut Veterans Wartime Service Medal. Caisse earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, OR at Section MA Site 48. Conlon earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND at Section B Site 141. Germain has a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery placed on May 23, 2014 at section K grave 313. Relatives Kenneth J. Carey (brother Terrence J. Carey) Paul Terence Carey (nephew of Terrence J. Carey) "Terence John Carey was my fathers brother. You have provided more information on his destiny than we have seen, ever." Diana Lufbery Stickle (niece of 2nd Lt. Philip E. Germain) Robert Stickle adds (nephew-in-law of 2nd Lt. Philip E. Germain) "His sister, Marie Germain and my wife provided a DNA Family Reference Sample to JPAC. Philip and his wife, Julia (nee Kavanaugh) Germain were only married for only about six weeks before he went missing in action. Afterwards, Julia never remarried until her later years, but never had any children. She died in 1986. My late wife's uncle, Ist Lt Philip E. Germain, who's B-25 plane was shot down in the Pacific on October 5,1942 will bcome "One of The Chosen One's" on May 23, 2014 at 1:00pm. Although his remains were never recovered, he is going to receive a full military memorial service and a memorial grave marker in Arlington. If Phil had lived he would have been 97 this July. Diana had this as one of the last things she wanted to complete on her bucket list. As time ran out on her, I got it done for her this month. It only took 72 years to get 1st Lt Philip E. Germain the recognition he deserves." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Terrence J. Carey NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Lauren S. Meader NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Kenneth M. Caisse NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Paul D. Mc Elroy Individual Aircraft Record Card (IARC) - B-25C Mitchell Serial Number 41-29701 USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D Mitchell 41-29701 Missing Air Crew Report 15077 (MACR 15077) created retroactively circa 1945 or 1946 Diary of Kurazo Uchida Japanese Army, 15th Pioneers "October 5, 1942 a twin enemy aircraft was shot down 1,000 meters from our work area. Only one body [was found] others seem to be in the ground. Eight machine guns were recovered from the crash." Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) 2nd Lt. Philip E. Germain News "Lieut. Germain, Army Aviator, Listed Missing - Won Honors Here As An Athlete In High School" News "Borough Flier Reported As Missing In Action - Lt. Philip . Germain" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Terrence J. Carey American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lauren S. Meader American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Philip E. Germain American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kenneth M. Caisse American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Paul D. McElroy American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Richard J. Conlon American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John A. Pagliuso National World War II Memorial - Registry: Philip E. Germain Bruce Hoy Diary Entries related to B-25D 41-29701 FindAGrave - 1Lt Terrence J Carey (tablets of the missing photos) FindAGrave - 1Lt Lauren S Meader (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Philip E Germain (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Kenneth M Caisse (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Kenneth M Caisse (memorial marker) FindAGrave - Sgt Paul D McElroy (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Paul Davis McElroy (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - PFC Richard J Conlon (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Richard J Conlon (memorial marker) FindAGrave - SSgt John A Pagliuso (tablets of the missing) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D Mitchell 41-29701 Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area pages 71, 77-79 research by Edward Rogers, AII-3, AIII-4 Eagles of the Southern Sky page 269-270 (photo) YouTube "1st LT Philip E. Germain - Arlington Ceremony" video by Robert Stickle, May 23, 2014 Thanks to Edward Rogers, Daniel Gillan, Paul Ekman, Wally McCollum, Robert Stickle, Shane Elliott and Larry Hickey 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
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