USAAF
5th AF
345th BG
499th BS
Pilot 1/Lt William A. Selby, O-738263 (MIA)
Co-Pilot 2/Lt Robert M. Gribble, O-829004 (MIA)
Radio T/Sgt Merton E. Voigt, 39236540 (MIA)
Engineer S/Sgt George I. Whittier, 11021886 (MIA)
Gunner S/Sgt David P. McManus, 13136948 (MIA)
Crashed June 16, 1944
Aircraft
History
Assigned to the 345th in March 1943.
Crew chief was Rapp and pilots included: Owen A. Hawver who was the original pilot and ferried it overseas to Australia, and flew combat missions in it as a medium bomber. Modified from a D-5 to D-1 straffer at Townsville.
Other known pilots include 2nd Lt. Kenneth D. McClure, 2nd Lt. Paul T. Luttrell who completed his tour of duty piloting this B-25, including flying the November 2, 1943 mission to Rabaul when the tail was damaged, and a Zero was claimed by gunners. Next, the plane was flown by 1st Lt. Robert W. Spear and finally 2nd Lt. William Selby until its loss.
Wartime
Hisory
Took off on a mission to bomb and straffe Jefman and Samate Airfields. This B-25 was hit hit by anti-aircraft fire over Jefman
Island, and last seen veering off to the north at low level, then crashed into the sea upside down and exploded.
References
Warpath Across The Pacific pages 370, 386, 416
B-25
MIA
