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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 500th BS     Nicolas Duprey 2000 |
Pilot 1st Lt. John P. McLean (survived) Crashed May 18, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8238 Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-5 Mitchell serial number 41-30073. During March 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG), 501st Bombardment Squadron (501st BS). Assigned to pilot McLean with crew chief SSgt Andrew M. Rezin. Nicknamed "Dittum-Dattum" with the artwork painted before departing Walterboro, South Carolina. Ferried overseas by 1st Lt. John P. McLean via Hickam Field then across the Pacific bound for Australia. Mission History On May 18, 1943 took off from Plaine des Giacs Airfield on New Caledonia piloted by 1st Lt. John P. McLean on a bound for Brisbane the last leg of the ferry flight across the Pacific. Roughly 30 minutes after take off while flying 30 miles west of New Caledonia, developed engine trouble and made an emergency landing on a single engine at Plaine des Giacs Airfield on New Caledonia. None of the crew were injured in the landing. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-5 Mitchell 41-30073 Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 19 (map) 20 (May 18, 1943, photo), 391 (500th BS: 41-30073), 417, 439 (index Dittum-Dattum) (Page 20) "Dittum-Dattum developed engine trouble and turned back to the airfield. The crew chief, S/Sgt. Andrew M. Rezin, recommended that McLean feather the engine, but the pilot wanted to finish his 180 degree turn first. This was just completed when flames began licking from the cowling. McLean shut it down immediately. The B-25 made it back to the airfield on one engine and was making a straight in approach when McLean discovered that an Australian liaison aircraft had landed and was left sitting on the runway while the crew went to have tea. The only thing he could do was land short beyond the parked plane. There wasn't enough runway left to get the plane stopped and Dittum-Dattum ran off the end of the strip, shearing off the landing gear before it slid to a halt. The uninjured crew quickly abandoned the plane, which burst into flames and was destroyed." 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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