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  B-26 Marauder Serial Number 40-1417  
USAAF
5th AF
22nd BG
HQ Squadron

Pilot  2nd Lt . Howard A. Hayes (rescued)
Navigator  2nd Lt. Harold P. Beck (rescued)
Radio  SSgt Samuel Siegel (rescued)
Force Landed  April 8, 1942
MACR  none

Aircraft History
Built by Martin in Baltimore, Maryland. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-26 Marauder serial number 40-1417.

Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
During March 1942, assigned to the 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), Headquarters Squadron (HQ Squadron). Ferried overseas to Australia by 2nd Lt. Howard A. Hayes and his crew. Arrived at Amberley Field near Brisbane on April 2, 1942.

Mission History
On April 8, 1942 in the afternoon took off from Garbutt Field near Townsville piloted by 2nd Lt . Howard A. Hayes on a ferry flight bound for 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby. During the flight, the crew became disoriented and was unsure of position when plane crossed the south coast of New Guinea late in the afternoon.

Lost, the B-26 flew up and down coastline for two hours. As darkness approached, Hayes released his bombs into the sea and searched for a place to make a force land. Unable to find a clear stretch of beach, he found a small clearing while the radio operator relayed an "SOS" before making a wheels up near Vailala a few miles from Kerema approximately 140 miles northwest of Port Moresby.

Fates of the Crew
The crew spent the night sleeping on the wing but suffered from mosquitoes and rain, and moved inside the bomber for the rest of the night. The crew were unhurt and immediately met by a group of villagers armed with knives, but established they were friendly and give fruits and vegetables.

Rescue
On April 9, 1942 Australian Patrol Officer (kiap) Lt. Francis "Frank" H. Moy, the district officer for the area and a member of the Papua Administrative Unit (PAU) arrived the next day and sent a radio message to Port Moresby about the crew. Meanwhile, Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Catalina piloted by F/L C. F. Thompson from No. 20 Squadron attempted to land offshore but rough seas made it impossible, but the flying boat dropped food and supplies to them.

Next, Moy led the crew to another village a mile away and remained there for nine days before anothr boat arrived. On April 19, 1942 embarked aboard MV Matoma and depart for Port Moresby arriving four days later and were driven to 7-Mile Drome. On April 23, 1943 the crew hitched a ride on another B-26 back to Garbutt Field and returned to duty.

Wreckage
During the crash landing, this B-26 skidded on its fuselage and the belly ripped atop two logs and smashed the nose. Finally, the bomber came to rest near a native hut. On April 19, 1942 when MV Matoma arrived, the bomber was stripped for usable parts then abandoned. During June 1942, Patrol Officer F. H. Moy returned to the bomber with five Royal Papuan Constabulary and loaded more wreckage onto the launch Tomu that was taken away.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-26 40-1417

"
1417 (22nd BG) crashed due to to fuel exhaustion en route to Port Moresby Apr 8, 1942. Crew survived."
WW2 Nominal Roll - Francis Herbert Moy, NX700454
Extract from district officer's report Captain W. H. H. Tompson, Kairuku June 1942 via Brian Bennett
Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 39, 47, 49, 62 (map) 66-67, 107, 110, 112, 119, 15, 176, 489
Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis

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Last Updated
April 20, 2022

 

Tech Info
B-26
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