USAAF
5th AF
3rd BG
90th BS
Pilot 2/Lt William Raymond Barker, O-417932 - KIA, BR
Co-Pilot 2/Lt Earl S Ripley, O-431518 - MIA
Crew Sgt Raymond E McGill, 6287828 - MIA
Gunner Sgt William C Krueger, 16027708 - MIA
Gunner Sgt Edward R White, 6925238 - KIA, BR
Crew Sgt W. Hill (survived)
Ditched April 24, 1942
Aircraft History
Exact serial number unknown, as many unit records were lost in a plane crash
in 1943. It was deemed too dangerous to permanently base planes at Port Moresby
due to frequent Japanese air raids.
Mission History
Took off from Charters Towers via Cairns as one of three B-25s bound for Port Moresby to fly a combat mission planned for the following
day against Lae. The group reached the New Guinea coast, headed west, but unable
to find Port Moresby, and
turned around to fly east. At dusk and short on fuel the group jettisoned
their bombs into the sea.
Ditch near Mariawate, Mullins Harbor. along with B-25C "Chattanooga Choo Choo". Further to the east ditched B-25C "Salvo Sadie" further to the west. Several bombs had stuck in the bomb bay, and the plane blew up when it ditched on the water, with only Sgt Hill surviving the explosion, spent the night in the water and washed ashore on a small island.
Nixon reported the ditchings to ANGAU officer, Captain 'Mac' Rich, who sailed from Samarai aboard the Marek, who arrived and met them. The next day, Rich, and native people searched the area but found the water murky and one of the unexploded bombs. Two bodies were recovered; Barker and White. The rest of the crew were not located. Rich then departed to look for "Salvo Sadie", returning with that crew on May 1st to the Fife Bay area.
The survivors of the triple ditching left the area on May 3rd aboard the Marek to Milne Bay, where they held a memorial service for the crew of "Tojo's Nitemare", then sailed on another boat, the Matoma to Port Moresby, arriving ten days late, and were sent back to Australia.
Memorials
Barker and White are buried at the Manila American Cemetery.
Reference
Flightpath Magazine "Underwater Trio" by Michael Claringbould
B-25
