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| USAAF 11th AF 28th BG 77th BS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Raymond B. Lewis, O-778190 (MIA / KIA) Binghamton, NY Co-Pilot F/O Edward N. F. Burrows, T-006374 (MIA / KIA) Washington, VT Navigator / Bombardier 2nd Lt. Milton E. Zack, O-707368 (POW, survived) Dorchester, MA Engineer-Gunner Cpl Robert D. Trant, 38459245 (POW, survived) Kingsville, TX Radio-Gunner Cpl Walter Bailey, 14133548 (POW, survived) Toscana, NC Armor-Gunner Cpl William E. Bradley, 35870807 (MIA / KIA) Bluefield, WV Crashed May 19, 1945 MACR 14472 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) at Air Force Plant NC at Fairfax Field near Kansas City, KS. Constructors Number 108-36140. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25J-10-NC Mitchell serial number 43-36140. Ferried to Alaska. Wartime History Assigned to the 11th Air Force (11tth AF), 28th Bombardment Group (28th BG), 77th Bombardment Squadron (77th BS). No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On May 19, 1945 took off from Attu Airfield (Alexai) on Attu Island piloted by 2nd Lt. Raymond B. Lewis as one of eight B-25s on a bombing mission (Mission 5M3086) against the Minami Cape radar installation and cannery on the Naka River on Shumshu Island. Reaching the target area, intense anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters drove off the formation. Only one B-25 got near the target to drop its bombs and strafe the area. This B-25 was experiencing problems with its right engine, and also had a wing external fuel tank that would not release. As it approached the coastline of Shumshu, there was a loud noise and the starboard propeller broke off. Immediately, they salvoed all their bombs and hoped to reach the Soviet Union to land. Unable to climb, the B-25 force landed on the snow covered beach and skidded to a stop, and the crew escaped without wounds. Fate of the Crew A Japanese fighter circled the crash site, and later a group of Japanese soldiers arrived, fired shots and the entire crew surrendered. Marched and beaten up and interned in a civilian jail. Then interrogated on Paramushir. Zack was flown to Hokkaido and interred in a POW Camp. Bailey and Trant were transported by ship to Hokkaido and were later interred with Zack in the POW camp. These three survived the war as prisoners. At the end of the war, all three were liberated from Hakodate POW Camp-Babai - Machi Hokkaido Island 41-140. The other three crew members were transported on the Tenryo Maru, that was torpedoed and sank, and all were lost. Their date of death is recorded as May 29, 1945. Memorials The three crew members who died aboard the Tenryo Maru were officially declared dead on May 29, 1945. All three remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA) and are memorialized at Honolulu National Cemetery (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 7. Lewis earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. Burrows earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Bradley earmed the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Casto Cemetery (at Tug Fork) in Jackson County, WV. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Raymond B. Lewis NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Milton E. Zack NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Walter Bailey USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25J-10-NC Mitchell 43-36140 "36140 (28th BG) lost May 19, 1945" Missing Air Crew Report 14472 (MACR 14472) May 20, 1945 NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Milton E. Zack (first record) NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Milton E. Zack (second record) NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Robert D. Trant NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Walter Bailey FindAGrave - Corp William E Bradley (courts of the missing photo) Kurile Islands Mission - 2nd Lt. Milton E. Zack, USAAC,11th AF 77th BS Mitt's Memories - Part III via Wayback Machine October 27, 2009 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Raymond B. Lewis American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward N. F. Burrows American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William E. Bradley FindAGrave - 2Lt Raymond B Lewis (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Flt O Edward N F Burrows (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp William E Bradley (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - William Earl Bradley (memorial marker photo) Thanks to Russ Rendon and Ted Darcy 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
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 B-25  Map May 19, 1945  POW / MIA 3 Prisoners 3 Missing |
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