Aircraft History
Assigned to the 345th BG on April 5, 1943. This aircraft flew over 100 combat missions. Pilots included Marston, McKenney and Milton N. Harper (completed his tour of duty in this bomber). Crew chief was Mike H. Juroshek.

Mission History
Took off from Biak bound for Nadzab on a laundry run, with a four man crew and 6 passengers. The aircraft experienced engine failure on the journey, and forced landed in the upper Keram part of the Sepik River in a swamp. Aside from the crew, there were nine passengers aboard, all members of the 501st Bomb Squadron, "Air Apaches". The crew all walked away from the crash, and after five days were rescued, and returned to their destination on September 18.

Wreckage
Fairly complete in the swampy plain along the Sepik. Over the years, instruments have been taken the majority of combat fittings are still in the aircraft.

John Fabale, Jr. reports:
"After the war, we got a package from the U.S. goverment, with Dad's diary in it.  Apparently, it had been captured from a Japanese prisoner at the end of the war at Wewak, and he has used some of the paper inside it.  Since it had my Dad's name on it, they were able to return it to us.

References
Warpath Across The Pacific pg 38, 62 119, 121, 164, 167, 186-187, 397
"Swamp Mitchell" by Michael Claringbould
"War Weary" by Jack Fellows depicts this aircraft
War In Pacific Skies page 88

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

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John Fabale

Swamp Mitchell