Aircraft History
This B-25D-5 was converted to a B-25D-1 'strafer' at Townsville. Assigned to the 499th BS during March 1943. Assigned to Captain Carl R. Conant and crew chief Gamblin.

This bomber flew on a mission against Rabaul on October 12, 1943 flown by Conant. On that mission, the bomb rack failed to release due to a faulty bomb rack, and failed to release its bombs, and only strafed the target.

When lost, this B-25 had engines R-2600-13 Serial Number (R) 41-28611 (L) 51-28533.

Mission History
Although this bomber was assigned to the 499th BS, it was on temporary loan to the 500th BS for this mission. Took off from Dobodura Airfield on a mission to bomb and strafe Rabaul. Over the target, this bomber was flying the number 2 position in the lead element of the formation.

On the bomb run with bomb bays open, this bomber began dropping its bombs and was hit by an anti-aircraft shell below the bomb bay, causing phosphorous bombs in the bomb bay to explode and catch fire and smoke. The bomber broke formation, attempted to climb and then plunged into the ground, and exploded. Crashed near Vuvu Plantation near Malaguna, to the west of Rabaul.

Memorials
The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. Memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
Warpath Across The Pacific, pages 85-86, 366-367, 386

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

B-25

MIA