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| USAAF 5th AF 22nd BG 19th BS Former Assignments 33rd BS 2nd BS   US Bombers Blast June 9, 1942  Moresby Under the Blitz June 9, 1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Pierre G. Powell (survived) Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. E. P. Ogonowski (survived) Navigator 2nd Lt C. W. Casteel (survived) Bombardier Sgt. P.L. Ramsey (survived) Engineer Sgt. G. T. Piohum (survived) Radio K. R. Gundling (WIA, survived) Gunner T. C. Riley (WIA, survived) Passenger Lt. Col Dwight Divine, II (C.O., 22nd BG (survived) Force Landed June 9, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Martin in Baltimore, Maryland. At the factory, this bomber was painted with olive drab upper surfaces and gray lower surfaces with "01363" on the left and right sides of the rear fuselage. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-26 Marauder serial number 40-1363. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), 2nd Bombardment Squadron (2nd BS). On March 25, 1942 transferred to the 33rd Bombardment Squadron (33rd BS). During April 1942, assigned to the 19th Bombardment Squadron (19th BS). Nicknamed "Southern Cross". Mission History On June 9, 1942 at 8:51am took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Pierre G. Powell armed with 100 pound bombs on a bombing mission against Salamaua. Over the north coast of New Guinea near Salamaua, B-25 Mitchells from the 3rd Bombardment Group returning from a bombing mission over Lae and were being chased by A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kōkūtai southward over the Salamaua area. The formation of B-26 Marauders arrived over the same area and were intercepted by the same Zeros. This B-26 was hit by gunfire in the left wing and hydraulics knocked out. Aboard, Gundling and Riley sustained minor wounds and their gunners claimed a fighter each. The bomber absorbed over 100 hits from the attacking Zeros including a large hole in the left side of the fuselage and rear of the left wing. Over Cape Ward Hunt, friendly fighter escorts finally chased away the A6M2 Zeros. Limping back to 7-Mile Drome, this bomber force landed with both engines feathered and the gear retracted due to the loss of hydraulic pressure. During the landing, Divine took over the controls. None of the crew were injured in the landing. On the ground, vehicles raced to the force landed B-26 to aid the crew. From a nearby hilltop, Australian war correspondent Damien Parer filmed the force landing and the B-26 on the ground. He wrote in his diary: "It was the most perfect belly landing possible, it was a gem. He landed with his engine cut off and as slowly as possible." Footage of this B-26 force landing appears in two newsreels: Cinesound Review: "Moresby Under the Blitz" and United News "U.S. Bombers Blast Jap Bases". In the former newsreel, the force landing is oriented left to right versus the latter right to left, indication one is version is reversed either by accident or deliberately. After extensive repairs at Charters Towers Airfield and Tocumwal Airfield, this bomber was turned into a "fat cat" and used to ferry supplies and personnel in Australia. Assigned to the 2nd Bombardment Squadron (2nd BS) and nicknamed "Rum Runner" . References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-26 Marauder 40-1363 "1363 (22nd BG, 33rd BS) landing accident at Martin company field, Maryland Mar 20, 1941. Made wheels up landing at Jackson Field, New Guinea Jun 9, 1942. Repaired and flown to RAAF Air Depot and to Essendon, Melbourne where it was used for administrative flights." YouTube "Cinesound Review – "Moresby Under The Blitz" (4:13 - 5:02) force landing left to right YouTube "United News – US Bombers Blast Jap Bases" (1:17 - 2:00) force landing right to left Winged Samurai pages 42-45 Damien Parer's War (2003) "It was the most perfect belly landing possible, it was a gem. He landed with his engine cut off and as slowly as possible." Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 106-107, 496 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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