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  B-25D-15 Mitchell Serial Number 41-30532  
USAAF
5th AF
3rd BG
90th BS

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Wilkinson Egimbari 2001

Pilot  1st Lt. Walter R. Gerry, O-798481
Co-Pilot  2nd Lt. Angelo C. Dellisnte, O-796333
Passenger  Capt Rudolph W. Johnson, Jr., O-454104 (27th Air Depot)
Passenger  Captain Lamar S. Russell, O-427867 (3rd BG, HQ)
Passenger  S/Sgt Raymond Greene, 110242389 (3rd BG, 90th BS
Passenger  S/Sgt Milton S. Miller, 11019883 (3rd BG, 13th BS)
Passenger  S/Sgt Marvin E. Culbreth, 6973582 (3rd BG, 13th BS)
Passenger  S/Sgt Charlie L. Fann, 14029330 (3rd BG, 13th BS)
Passenger  Sgt Harold B. Davis, 15070329 (3rd BG, 13th BS)
Passenger  S/Sgt Jack E. Beals, 13048390 (3rd BG, 90th BS)
Passenger  S/Sgt Edward R. Howard, 11042384 (3rd BG, 90th BS)

Crashed  February 1, 1944
MACR  2565

Aircraft History
Engines: R-2600-13 AAF Serial Numbers: 42-76989 and 42-76979

Mission History
Took off from Horanda Airfield near Dobodura in the morning on a flight to 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby. On board were several members from 27th Air Depot on board. Pilot 1/Lt Walter Gerry last radioed Port Moresby at 0800 hours, advising he was returning due to bad weather, but was never seen again.

Wreckage
The crash site was located at 10,500' near the peak of Mt Kenevi by accident on April 29, 1961 by a joint Australian Administration patrol led by S/L Keith Rundel with a American recovery team. The team was not looking for this aircraft, they were actually searching for a Anson LT294 which they later successfully located on the area.

Remains of the crew, plus an unopened parachute found 200 meters behind the wreck, with attendant human remains, indicated that at least one crew member might have bailed out before the aircraft impacted.

In 2001, local villagers lead Wilkinson Egimbari to the site.  They found personal effects and significant human remains still scattered among the main wreckage.

Relatives
Amanda Baird (niece of Fann):
"The article on your website has sparked renewed interest by my family. I am the youngest of Charlie L Fann's nieces and nephews and am very interested in this segment of our family's history."

References
Thanks to John Douglas and Michael Claringbould for historical information.

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

 

Tech Info
B-25

Map
9.06
147.44

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Journey To Mt. Kenevi

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