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  B-25D-20 "Mexican Spitfire" Serial Number 41-30592  
USAAF
5th AF
345th BG
500th BS

Former Assignments
3rd BG

498th BS

Click For Enlargement
345th BG 1944
Pilot  2nd Lt. Lloyd B. Bardwell, Jr., O-761500 (MIA / KIA) AR
Co-Pilot  2nd Lt. Millard W. Israel, O-706061 (MIA / KIA) Stone County, MS
Navigator
  2nd Lt. Robert C. Feuerstein, O-738545 (MIA / KIA) Tacoma, WA
Engineer
Cpl Wyman D. La Rose, 32490740 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL
Radio
Pfc Calvin D. Simansky, 39556139 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA
Gunner
 SSgt Lacy B. Hall, Jr., 34316566 (MIA / KIA) Alamance County, NC
Ditched  September 2, 1944
MACR  8636

Aircraft History
Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8757. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-20 Mitchell serial number 41-30592. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF). Initially, this B-25 was likely assigned to the 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG). On November 26, 1943 assigned to the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG), 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS). Nicknamed "Mexican Spitfire". Regular pilots included Bruce and Landon. Crew chiefs H. D. Smith and Pratt.

On February 15, 1944 piloted by 1st Lt. Francis P. Doman flew the mission against Kavieng. On April 8, 1944 assigned to the 498th Bombardment Squadron (498th BS), but transferred back to the 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS) a few days later.

Mission History
On September 2, 1944 took off from Biak piloted by 2nd Lt. Lloyd B. Bardwell, Jr. on a mission against Langoan Airfield, but diverted to strafe troops along Lahbeh Strait between Lahbeh Island (Lembeh) and Celebes. Over the target, this B-25 was hit by anti-aircraft fire and ditched into Lahbeh Strait off Lahbeh Island (Lembeh).

On impact, the nose submerging, forcing the tail and right wing breaking off. A Japanese Zero strafed the crew as they were escaping, but was driven away by other B-25s from the squadron circling to protect them. All five crew were observed in the water, their plane sank five minutes later. Their raft seemed damaged and only partially inflated.  Short on fuel the other B-25s departed and no trace of the crew was ever seen again.

Memorials
La Rose, Hall, Feuerstein, Simansky and Israel were officially declared dead on March 18, 1946. Bardwell was officially declared dead on July 18, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

Bardwell earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Israel earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Feuerstein earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

La Rose earned the Soldier's Medal, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Simansky earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Hall earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Pine Hill Cemetery in Burlington, NC at Military Row 11.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Millard W. Israel
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert C. Feuerstein
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Calvin D. Simansky
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Lacy B. Hall Jr.
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-20 Mitchell 41-30592
"30592 (345th BG) lost Sep 2, 1944, SW Pacific. MACR 8636"
Missing Air Crew Report 8636 (MACR 8636)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lloyd B. Bardwell Jr.
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Millard W. Israel
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert C. Feuerstein

American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wyman D. La Rose
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Calvin D. Simansky
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lacy B. Hall Jr.
FindAGrave - 2Lt Lloyd B Bardwell, Jr (photo, memorial marker photo, tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - 2LT Millard William Israel (photo, tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - 1Lt Robert C Feuerstein (news, tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Corp Wyman D La Rose (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - PFC Calvin D Simansky (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSGT Lacy B Hall, Jr (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Lacy B Hall, Jr (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - Lacy Bryant "June" Hall, Jr (photo, memorial marker photo)
Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) page 123, 184 (photo), 371, 382, 392

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Last Updated
January 12, 2023

 

Tech Info
B-25

MIA
MIA
6 Missing
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