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  B-25D-1 "Butch" Serial Number 41-30163  
USAAF
5th AF
345th BG
501st BS

Click For Enlargement
1943
Click For Enlargement
Dennis Gray c1973
Click For Enlargement
Justin Taylan 2004

Pilot  1st Lt William H. Cather
Co-Pilot  Lt. Paul Murphy
Engineer  Sgt. James Immekus
Gunner  Sgt Joe Seale

Crashed  August 26, 1943

Crew History
The entire crew was alive in the late 1970s.

Aircraft History
Assigned to the 38th Bombardment Group. Next, this B-25 model D-5 converted to D-1 strafer at Townsville. Then assigned to the 345th BG 501st BS on August 10, 1943.

Mission History
Took off frorm 7-Mile Drome on a local flight to Rogers Field (30 Mile) to pick up another aircrew. On landing, it slid off the runway due to wet conditions and was a complete loss, but none of the crew were injured. After the crash, the aircraft was transferred to the 374th Service Squadron for salvage.

Wreckage
Abandoned at the western end of the strip.  In the 1990's the wreckage was partially scrapped.

Albert H. Cross remembers:
"In 1957/8 there was a wreck of a B-25 Mitchell, with the name "Butch" on the nose, lying alongside the road at the other end of the strip. Just the fuselage section. The plane was in poor condition - no wings, all inside fittings/instruments removed."

Justin Taylan adds:
"By 2004, the wreckage has been largely scrapped, only the bombay, part of the center section, and part of the left wing remain.

References
Bruce Hoy's PNG Museum status card
Warpath Across The Pacific, page 40, 397

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

 

Tech Info
B-25

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