B-25D Mitchell Serial Number 41-30182

USAAF
5th AF
38th BG
71st BS

 

Pilot  1st Lt. Richard Hurst, O-749477
Co-Pilot  1st Lt. James A. Henderson, O-736209 Gary, IN
Navigator  2nd Lt Aloysius W Steele, O-706554
Radio  Pfc John J Creiqhton, 32645702
Gunner  Sgt Henry Miga, 31286820
Passender  Pfc Schley H Russell, 34611863 )80 SG, 92 SS)
Passender  Pfc Bryon W Durham, 34680183 (80 SG, 92 SS)
Passender  TSgt Alfred L Milazzo, 32198661 (928 Signal Battalion)
Passender  Cpl Gene J Morris, 18129418 (56 Fighter Control Sqn)
MIA  July 1, 1944
MACR  7344

Aircraft History
Assigned to the 38th BG from the 4th Air Depot at Townsville on July 22, 1943. Piloted successively by Paquin, Cronn and Garton. Crew chiefs were Tobias, then Crabtree. It is possible the B-25 was nicknamed "King's Cross Katie", but that could also just as easily be about 3-4 bombers from the 71st BS as well.

Mission History
The plane was lost on a courier mission from Saidor at 0907 hours bound for Nadzab. The weather at the time was good. Its last known position believe to be 65 miles NW of Lae and crashed in the Finisterre Range.

Discovery
The wreck was located post war some of the crew remains were recovered in the US Army AGRS. 

Located again by Bruce Hoy / PNG Musuem at 9,000' in a canyon in the Finesterres near Sawan. This aircraft was the subject of a US Army CILHI search in October 1980, but the wreck was not relocated. 

Bruce Hoy adds:
"This aircraft was identified by me from serial number off one of its engines."

In the late 1990s, Alfred Hagen visited the site, and additional remains were later recovered by the US Army, and the remains of the co-pilot were returned to the family and buied in 2003.

References
Thanks to Aerothentic Publications for the historical information.
Bruce Hoy's PNG Museum status card.

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