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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 498th BS  Best Nov 27, 1943 |
Pilot Captain William L. "Kizzy" Kizzire, O-726787 (MIA / KIA) Greybull, WY Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Charles G. Reynolds, O-661563 (MIA / KIA, BR) Bridgeport, OH Navigator 1st Lt. Joseph W. Carroll, Jr., O-665898 (MIA / KIA) Dallas, TX Radio SSgt Roy E. Showers, Jr., 18075424 (POW, MIA / KIA) Pampa, TX Engineer SSgt Wilfred J. Paquette, 31127441 (POW, MIA / KIA) Northampton, MA Gunner SSgt Fred D. Nightwine, 13085578 (POW, MIA / KIA) Slippery Rock, PA Ditched November 27, 1943 MACR 987 / 1248 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8211. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as a B-25D-5 Mitchell serial number 41-30046. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. This aircraft was converted into a B-25D-1 strafer by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Wartime History During March 1943, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 498th Bombardment Squadron (498th BS) "Falcons". Nicknamed "Impatient Virgin". Assigned to pilot Kilgore with crew chief Rustun. Converted into a B-25D-1 strafer by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. On October 12, 1943 took off piloted by Captain William L. Kizzire on a low level parafrag strike against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul and was part of the fourth flight on the extreme right of the formation and took a series of photographs over the dispersal area with parked G4M1 Bettys from 751 Kokutai. On October 16, 1943 took off piloted by Captain William L. Kizzire leading the first flight of the squadron on a low level strike over Boram Airfield near Wewak. Before reaching the target, the formation was intercepted by Japanese fighters including Ki-61 Tonys that made head-on passes. While strafing Boram Airfield, Kizzire claimed a parked Ki-61 Tony then released their bombs over a revetment area with two parked planes then overflew Wewak Airfield then turned over Wewak Harbor and one of the gunners aboard this B-25 claimed a probable kill before departing the target area. When lost, this B-25 had engines R-2600-13 serial numbers 41-28681 and 42-77464. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown plus four .30 caliber machine guns makers unknown, all serial numbers noted in Missing Air Crew Report 987 (MACR 987). Mission History On November 27, 1943 took off from Port Moresby piloted by Captain William L. Kizzire leading the formation of B-25s on a low level strike against Boram Airfield near Wewak. The weather was scattered clouds at 3,000' with visibility unlimited. This B-25 was part of the third wave over the target and enemy anti-aircraft fire had increased. While strafing a small wooden vessel in Wewak Harbor, hit by 20mm anti-aircraft gunfire from a freighter anchored off Cape Moen. This B-25 sustained damaged to the right engine. Over the radio, pilot Kizzire was heard to state: "God almighty, I can't feather it... It hit the oil sump. I can't feather the engine." Returning, this B-25 successfully ditched into Murik Lagoon, with the tail and rear fuselage remaining above the water. The crew were observed to get to ashore. Supplies and an escape map were dropped to them. The crew were observed until the next day. Search On November 29, 1943 a U.S. Navy (USN) PBY Catalina from Patrol Squadron 11 (VP-11) was sent to the area to rescue the crew. The rescue plane was guided by a B-25 pilot Robinette from 345th Bombardment Group who observed the crash landing. Three flares were observed from the ground, roughly three miles west of Murik Lagoon. Before the Catalina was able to land, a Japanese bomber was spotted overhead, and the search was aborted and the Catalina returned to Milne Bay. On November 30, 1943 at sunrise, the same PBY Catalina returned and continued searching for an hour and a half but found nothing. An hour later, another PBY Catalina, escorted by eleven fighters returned to the area, circling for another hour and also found nothing. On December 1, 1943 in the morning, another Catalina was scheduled to search but the attempt was aborted when the fighter escort turned back. Fates of the Crew Although the crew was observed after the ditching, all six are officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA) to this day. At least three of the crew were captured by the Japanese Army and became Prisoners Of War (POW). Showers, Paquette and Nightwine were named in Japanese radio broadcasts in English during in March 6–22, 1944 as prisoners at Wewak POW Camp (Kreer POW Camp). Likely, all three died in captivity or were executed by the Japanese. Officially, only Paquette and Nightwine were officially reported as a Prisoner Of War (POW) by the Japanese. Both died in captivity with the last report date of January 22, 1945. This date is likely an administrative date only. Likely both died sometime between March 1944 or sometime prior to May 1945 when the Wewak area was liberated by the Australian Army. Possibly, other members of the crew were also captured and executed by the Japanese. Alternately, they evaded capture and died of other causes. Recovery of Remains In late 1948, a team from American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) recovered remains from New Guinea that were transported to the Philippines and designated X-4180 and X-4196 then buried as unknowns at Manila American Cemetery. During 2019, a recovery team from DPAA (DPAA) working near Murik found possible material evidence associated with this case and later resulted in the disinterment of X-4180 and by January 8, 2020 and sent for laboratory testing. These remains were identified as Reynolds using dental, analysis evidence and mtDNA analysis. On July 18, 2023 Reynolds was accounted for by the Department of Defense (DoD). Memorials The crew was officially declared dead on January 22, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Kizzire earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Donald J. Ruhl Memorial Cemetery in Greybull, WY. Reynolds earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. After his remains were identtified, a rosette was added to his name to indicate he has been accounted for. He will be buried in his hometown of Bridgeport, OH. Carroll earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. On September 25, 2018 he had a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery at memorial section C, site 34-L-1. His name is also listed on the Sunset High School WWII Memorial Plaque. Showers earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Paquette earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Nightwine earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William L. Kizzire NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Charles G. Reynolds NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Joseph W. Carroll, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Roy E. Showers, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Wilfred J. Paquette NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Fred D. Nightwine NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File does not list any member of the crew as a Prisoner Of War (POW) which is not uncommon for prisoners of the Japanese detained in Wewak. NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Wilfred J. Paquette rank listed as Private incorrectly NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Fred D. Nightwine USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-5 Mitchell 41-30046 "30046 (345th BG, 498th BS, "Impatient Virgin") converted to D-1. Damaged by light AAA from a freighter and ditched into Murik Lagoon, New Guinea Nov 27, 1943. MACR 1248. 6 crew POW, all died in prison camp." Missing Air Crew Report 1248 (MACR 1248) Missing Air Crew Report 987 (MACR 987) related to B-25D 41-30056 includes page 14 related to this crew. (Page 14) "5. The Prisoner of War Information Bureau, Provost Marshal General's Offices has informed this office the following broadcasts have been received: a. Tokyo in English to Western United, received 6 Mar. 1944: The name is Roy Showers, Box 1297, Tampa, Texas, and here's his mother's name too. Mrs. Roy L. Showers same address. That’s swell. Probably the Red Cross will have someone notify her that he is all right. They were all at Wewak in New Guinea. Like those fellows I told you about the other day. Leo, why don’t we keep a list of those fellows, every time a bunch of new prisoners comes to camp they always bring more information. Someone ought to keep track of it. Don’t worry about that, and I have a complete file they have another one in the officer’s quarters. Would you like me to repeat them to you? All right I will. The first new prisoner of war in Wewak in New Guinea is Roy Earl Showers, Box 1279 Tampa, Texas. b. Tokyo in English to Western United States, received 17 March 1944: Before we drop in on (Jack, Leo and Ben) this evening, how about jotting down a name or two? Just make a brief note of a couple new missing men then we will join the boys in barracks number 3. Now if there is a post card handy please address it to “And the second edition to our list of missing men is: Wilford Joseph Paquette of 117 Franklin Street, North Hampton, Mass. Notify Mr. Joseph Paquette of the same address that his son is alive and well, a prisoner in Wewak, New Guinea. And now with your good deed one for tonight let’s drop in on the boys. c. Tokyo in English to Western United States, received 22 March 1944: Send a short note to Edna Irene Nightwine, of Water Street,, Slippery Rock, Pa., and tell her that Ted John Nightwine is now a prisoner of war of the Imperial Japanese Army in Wewak, New Guinea. He participated in a raid on Japanese positions in the vicinity of Madang [sic, Boram]: His fighter plane was brought down by anti-aircraft fire. Just let Mrs. Nightwine know that she need not fear for the safety of her son who is now a prisoner of war and no longer an active participant in front line combat in the South Pacific. Inasmuch as these reports were not transmitted in the regular channels for reporting prisoners of war, they were considered unofficial and the status of the men herin under review means unchanged. Boram, the target on this mission, is located approximately 2 1/2 miles from Wewak on the northeastern coast of New Guinea. Karau Lagoon, the scene of the crash landing, is approximately 35 miles southeast of Boram, also on the northeast coast of New Guinea, and, at the time of the mishap, in the hands of Japanese forces." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William L. Kizzire FindAGrave - Capt William Lee Kizzire (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - William Lee Kizzire (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles G. Reynolds FindAGrave - 1Lt Charles G Reynolds (tablets of the missing) DPAA News Release - Airman Accounted for from WWII (Reynolds, C.) September 11, 2023 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph W. Carroll Jr. FindAGrave - 1Lt Joseph W Carroll, Jr (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Joseph William Carroll, Jr (photo, Arlington National Cemetery, Sunset High School plaque) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Roy E. Showers Jr. FindAGrave - SSgt Roy E Showers, Jr (tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wilfred J. Paquette FindAGrave - SSgt Wilfred J Paquette (tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Fred D. Nightwine FindAGrave - SSgt Fred D Nightwine (tablets of the missing) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25C Mitchell 41-30046 Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 37 (photo), 52 (map), 55 (October 12, 1943), 63 (October 16, 1943), 93-96 (November 27, 1943), 367 (November 27, 1943 crew list), 381 (498th BS, 41-30046) 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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