USAAF
5th AF
22nd BG
19th BS
via IR&P 1942
John Douglas 2008
Aerothentic 2008
Pilot Duncan A. Seffern, O-431539
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. James A.
Michael, O-431469 (MIA)
Bombardier Sgt Paul L. Ramsey
Navigator 2nd Lt. Charles W. Casteel (MIA)
Gunner Tom Riley
Radio Sgt Kenneth R. Gundling
Engineer Sgt. George T. Rickman
Passenger Vern Haugland
Crashed
August 7, 1942
Aircraft History
Assigned to the 22nd Bombardment Group during July 1942. Shipped to Australia and assembled at Eagle Farm Depot at Amberley Airfield.
Mission History
Took off from Woodstock Airfield near Townsville bound for 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby to stage for
the group's first combat mission planned against Lae.
Aboard as a passenger was war correspondent Vern Haugland of the Associated Press.
Over the Coral Sea a half hour from their destination the flight encountered bad weather. This bomber and B-26 "Dixie" 40-1496attempted to fly above the weather, but the entire New Guinea area covered in cloud. Both bombers became separated from each other and both were lost.
After dark and low on fuel the crew bailed out over Mount Suckling, about 110 miles east-north-east of Port Moresby. Pilot Seffern was the last to bail out of the bomber/
Rescue of the Crew
The crew bailed out over different locations, and had varied fates. Only two members of the crew found each other, the others suffered alone to survive and find friendly natives to take them to Port Moresby.
Vern Haugland linked up with James Michael on Mount Suckland. They separated on August 16th, in hopes one would find help sooner. Haugland found a village in early September and was later taken to a missionaries and taken from Abau to Port Moresby on September 23rd, weighing only 90 pounds (down from 165).
Rickman bailed out with minor wound to his lip and after being caught in a tree. He walked to a village and was rescued by a RAAF Tiger Moth returned to Port Moresby in a week, the first person from the crew to return.
Tom Riley landed near the summit of Mount Suckling and reached a village after ten days without food on the mountain. After recovering in the village he was taken to Wanagilla Mission and met Reverend Dennis J. Taylor. When Japanese forces were reported to have landed at Gona, they left the mission and trekked for two weeks to an outpost and were evacuated by boat from Abau to Port Moresby arriving on September 30th.
Kenneth Gundling was wounded bailing out, breaking three ribs and puncturing his lung when his chute opened and dislocated his shoulder, and had to snap it back into place himself. He found a village after sixteen days in the jungle. Treated by an Australian soldier, he was sent to another village and by boat to Port Moresby and recovered in the hospital there.
Ramsey found a village after eight days, before he was found by a patrol officer and returned to Port Moresby.
Seffern spent six days in the jungle before finding natives and an Australian patrol officer. Taken to Abau, he was later returned him to Port Moresby on August 29th by boat and returned to combat a week later.
Missing Crew Members
Michael was never seen after separating from Haugland on August 16th. Casteel was never seen after the bail out. Both crew members are still listed as Missing In Action.
References
Revenge of the Red Raiders pages 124-125, 474, 496
Love, War, and the 96th Engineers (Colored) page 98
Letters from New Guinea by Haugland published in 1943
Thanks to Edward Rogers
B-26
Photo Archive
MIA
Two Missing
