|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 501st BS |
Pilot Captain James W. Underwood, O-421358 (MIA / KIA) Hermosa, CA Co-Pilot 2Lt William H. Clark, O-718868 (MIA / KIA) Hammond, IN Nav-Bomb Maj William J. McBride, O-662285 345th BG, HQ (MIA / KIA) Minneapolis, MN Engineer Sgt Carl E. Schenzel, 36244506 (MIA / KIA) Merrill, WI Radio TSgt Robert S. Knowlden, 13070626 (MIA / KIA) Washington, DC Gunner SSgt George H. Ray, 13025173 (MIA / KIA) Shavertown, PA Crashed January 9, 1945 MACR 11792 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) at Air Force Plant NC at Fairfax Field near Kansas City, KS. Constructors Number 108-35302. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25J-10-NC Mitchell serial number 43-36012. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Wartime History On October 5, 1944 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG), 501st Bombardment Squadron (501st BS). Nicknamed "Lazy Daisy Mae". Assigned to crew chief Greenquist. On October 28, 1944 this was the first Mitchell to land at Tacloban Airfield on Leyte. On November 3, 1944 took off from Tacloban Airfield on a mission against Alicante on Negros. On January 7, 1945 took off from Tacloban Airfieldpiloted Jones on a mission against Clark Field on Luzon. Mission History On January 9, 1945 took off from Tacloban Airfield on Leyte piloted by Captain James W. Underwood on a mission to support the U.S. landing at Lingayen Gulf on Luzon. Roughly another hour later, another pilot reported that the plane disappeared from formation at 7,000' into clouds over Sibuyan Island (with a 6,500' peak); there was a sudden flash of light shortly afterwards, and the plane was never seen or heard from again. Wreckage In fact, this B-25 had crashed northwest of Sibuyan on the northern part of Mindoro Island. During May 1963, a U.S. Army search and recovery team, acting on a tip from Filipinos in the area visited the crash site. Also found were "five incomplete bones." It was subsequently learned, in February 2008, that the bones had been cremated in 1965 by the Army since they could not be positively identified. No further efforts have been made since 1963 to search for any additional remains at the crash site. A February 1965 memo in the file notes that the tail boom of the plane was found (with ID number and the Red Raider insignia of the 501st Bombardment Squadron), along with Capt Underwood's ID tag and flight school ring engraved with his name inside. (Nothing was reportedly found from any of the other five crew members.) Not until August 2002, when the family Capt James Underwood, obtained his Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF), did they learn of the discovery in 1963 or recovery of remains. This was never reported to the Underwood family. Memorials The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Underwood earned the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Clark earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. McBride earned the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart Schenzel earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Knowlden earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Ray earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Relatives James W. Briggs (son of James W. Underwood) References Major McBride was the 345th Bombardment Group bombing and gunnery officer. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25J-10-NC Mitchell 43-36012 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James W. Underwood American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William H. Clark American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William J. McBride American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Carl E. Schenzel American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert S. Knowlden American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George H. Ray Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 254 (photo) 399, 426-427 Thanks to James W. Briggs for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
|
 B-25  MIA 6 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
