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USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 500th BS Former Assignments 3rd BG 498th BS 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 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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B-25 MIA 6 Missing |
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