USAAF
5th AF
22nd BG
HQ Squadron

June 9, 1942

Pilot  1st Lt. Willis G. Bench, O-420822 (MIA)
Co-Pilot  P/O Lorne Allan John Passmore, RAAF 412675 (MIA)
Bombardier  Cpl Alex Makuch, 13011250 (MIA)
Navigator  2/Lt Harold P. Beck, O-434966 (MIA)
Radio  S/Sgt Samuel Siegel, 6905713 (MIA)
Engineer  Cpl George H. Miles, 13001411 (MIA)
Gunner  Cpl Robert A. Rockefeller, 7071440 (MIA)
Passenger  Lt Col Francis R. Stevens, US Army O-15779 (MIA)
Crashed  June 9, 1942

Mission History
One of 11 B-26s attacking Lae and Salamaua with B-25s and B-17s. The formation was attacked by up to 20 Zeros. Bench took his B-26 down to sea level in an attempt to escape, but was shot down instead.

B-26 was shot down into a bay approximately 30 miles south of Salamaua. Passenger on another B-26 in the same formation, B-26 "Heckling Hare" 40-1488, was Commander Lyndon B Johnson (later US President).

References
Revenge of the Red Raiders pages 100, 105-107, 474, 489
Thanks to Daniel Leahy / ABMC for crew serial numbers

Contribute Information

B-26