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
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