Aircraft History
Ferried overseas to Australia and assigned to the 22nd Bombardment Group, 2nd Bombardment Squadron during the middle of 1943, after modification. Assigned to Larson with crew chief Chirico.

Nicknamed "How's Your Ole' Tomato" with the nose art of a seated nude figure, and "How's Your" in a smaller font and "Ole" Tomato" outlined in white in a larger font. A nose number "14" was painted on the left side of the nose.

First combat mission was October 5, 1943, and flew a total of 58 combat missions in New Guinea. Later, this B-25 was then transferred to the 345th Bombardment Group, 500th Bombardment Squadron on January 30, 1944.

Mission History
Took off on a training mission with a crew from the 499th Bombardment Squadron. Dived straight into the ground and crashed roughly 16 miles west-south-west of Nadzab. The entire crew was killed instantly.

Wreckage
Captain Speicher located the crash site from the air after an extensive search. Later, the site was visited and remains of some of the crew were recovered.

Today, the crash site, located near Chivasing cattle Station / plantation in the Markham Valley and not that far from Nadzab. This site was investigated by Brian Bennett on a I.E. for JPAC in 2004. Locals turned over a full set of remains and dog tag of Robert A. Lind, 16021988.

Brian Bennett adds:
"Lind's remains recovered were significant and with dogtag and were in the middle of the crash impact area and just slightly sub-surface."

Memorials
The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. Four of the crew are bureid at Manila American Cemetery. Thomas Finnegan at Plot B Row 6 Grave 164. Richard Anderson at Plot D Row 11 Grave 203. Dean Class at Plot F Row 8 Grave 55. John White at Plot L Row 8 Grave 128.

References
Revenge of the Red Raiders page 492, 561
Warpath Across The Pacific pages 368, 393
American Battle Monuments Commission does not list Lind or Clarke.
Thanks to Steve Birdsall and Brian Bennett for additional information

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

B-25

MIA