USAAF
5th AF
345th BG
500th BS





Don Fetterly 2001

Marc Montocchio 2001

Pilot  Captain Mike Hochella
Co-Pilot  2nd Lt. William H. Bright
Navigator  1st Lt. John J. Howard (KIA)
Engineer  S/Sgt Elmore C. Stephens
Gunner  S/Sgt Sam Kellar
Radio  Pvt Clyde R. Lambert
Ditched  February 15, 1944

Aircraft History
Assigned to the 345th BG on October 22, 1943. This aircraft was a model C-10 that was modified to C-1 strafer at Townsville. Nicknamed "Snafu" (II) and later "Stubborn Hellion" with the nose art of a white mustang that spanned the entire nose. Regular pilot was Hpchella and crew chief Bigari.

Mission History
Took off on a attack against Kavieng. Its engine was set afire by anti-aircraft fire and ditched near Selapiu Island off New Hanover. Spotted the following day by 345th BG pilot Captian Dougherty. The next day, he guided a PBY Catalina to the location. The PBY landed to rescue them on the 17th.

Wreckage
Wreckage is still in excellent condition, but water visibility is poor. Both engines were torn off on impact and rest prop down in the mud about 100 feet from the fuselage.

Don Fetterly adds:
"The plane is an excellent dive. It is laying slightly on its starboard side with its starboard wing into the mud. and the other wing raised so you can swim under it. The fuselage is bent at the waist gun position although the tail plane to be at a angle of some 20 degree to port. The top of the cockpit is missing and the cockpit section is bent backwards towards and is laying along side the leading edge of the port wing about where the engine was. Water visibility is often poor, but the wreckage is still in excellent condition. Both engines were torn off on impact and rest prop down in the mud about 100 feet from the fuselage. The nose section is completely gone and as of this date could not find it . The top turret is bent sideways slightly, but all in all the plane is there just as it went down. There are lots of flack holes in the wing and main body. the machine guns are still there in the tail and starboard waist gun both 30 caliber the port gun seem to have be torn out."

Marc Montocchio reports:
"The wreck which is very difficult to shoot due to the viability which is not more than 10'. The engines are missing from the wreck and her nose cone was snapped off on impact and is lying against her left wing. The left front seat is loose, "legend" has it that pilot was thrown clear of the aircraft on impact and the seat has since been returned by divers to it's correct position. Inside the fuselage the radio gear is very clear as well as what I presume ia an Oxygen cylinder. The tail gun is on the tail plane along side an number of ammunition belts with the turret guns pointing to the bottom no covered by an anemone and clown fish. One of the engine is to be found fifty or so meters from the plane with the prop covered by the silt and mud. The rest of the aircraft we found in clearer water"

References
Warpath Across The Pacific pages 118-119, 122, 127, 368, 392

Contribute Information

B-25

15m

2.21
150.37