USAAF
5th AF
22nd BG
19th BS
June 9, 1942
Former Assignments:
33rd BS
2nd BS
Pilot 1st Lt. Pierre G. Powell
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. E. P. Ogonowski
Navigator 2nd Lt C. W. Casteel
Bombardier Sgt. P.L. Ramsey
Engineer Sgt. G. T. Piohum
Radio K. R. Gundling (WIA)
Gunner T. C. Riley
Passenger Lt. Col Dwight Divine, II (22nd BG C.O.)
Force Landing June 9, 1942
Aircraft History
Ferried to Australia. Transfered to the 33rd BS when it arrived in Australia on March 25, 1942. Assigned to the 19th BS in April 1942. Nicknamed "Southern Cross" with the 19th BS until force landing.
Mission History
Armed with 100lbs bombs, this B-26 took off from 7-Mile Drome at 8:51am for a mission to bomb Salamaua. Near the target, Tainan Kokutai A6M2 Zeros chasing 3rd BG B-25 that had just attacked Lae spotted the B-26s aproaching and attacked them.
This aircraft was hit over the target area in the left wing and hydrolics knocked out. Gundling and Riley sustained minor wounds and claimed a fighter each. The bomber absorbed over 100 hits. Over Cape Ward Hunt, friendly fighter escort finally chased the Zeros away.
Liimping back to 7-Mile Drome, this bomber force landed with both engines feathered and the gear retracted due to loss of hydrolics. During the landing, Divine took over the controls. None of the crew were harmed in the landing.
Australian war correspondent Damien Parer filmed this landing and wrote in his diary (via Damien Parer's War): "It was the most perfect belly landing possible, it was a gem. He landed with his engine cut off and as slowly as possible."
The footage of the force landing appears in several newsreels: "Moresby Blitz" and United News "US Bombers Blast Jap Bases" (1:18 - 2:00).
After extensive repairs at Charters Towers and Tocmwal, it was turned into a "fat cat" and used to ferry supplies and personnel an nicknamed "Rum Runner" and was assigned to the 2nd BS.
References
Winged Samurai page 42-45
Revenge of the Red Raiders page 106 - 107, 496
B-26
