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| USAAF 5th AF 19th BG 93rd BS Former Assignments 30th BS  USAAF Dec 41-Jan 42 |
Pilot Captain Ray L. Cox, O-380226 (MIA / KIA) Crowell, TX Co-Pilot 1st Lt John E. L. Huse, O-021777 (MIA / KIA) Bath, ME Crew S/Sgt John U. Sowa, 6541524 (MIA / KIA, BR) MT Crew Sgt. Arthur E. Karlinger, 6579249 (MIA / KIA) OR Crew Sgt John S. Penny, 17023807 (MIA / KIA) MS Gunner Pfc Jack E. Bingham, 20813175 U.S. Army 131st Field Artillery (MIA / KIA) Uvalde, TX Gunner Pvt. Don H. Barnes, 20813583 U.S. Army 131st Field Artillery (MIA / KIA, BR) Hale County, TX Crashed February 3, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle as a model 299H. Constructors Number 2063. Delivered to the the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) as B-17C Flying Fortress serial number 40-2062. On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Flown from Hamilton Field to Hickam Field on Oahu in Hawaii. In early September 1941 departs Hickam Field as part of a B-17 formation across the Pacific bound for the Philippines. On September 5, 1941 lands at Midway Airfield to refuel. On September 9, 1941 lands at 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby in New Guinea to refuel. On September 10, 1941 lands at Batchelor Field near Darwin to refuel and were the first B-17 Flying Fortress bombers in Australia then departs on the last leg of the flight to the Philippines. At the time, this was the longest mass flight of land based aircraft in the world. Assigned to the 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 30th Bombardment Squadron (30th BS) to pilot Lt. James T. Connally. No known nickname or nose art. Wartime History On December 8, 1941 at the start of the Pacific War, this B-17 was parked at Clark Field and survived the Japanese air raid. On December 10, 1941 at 5:30am took off on a photo reconnaissance mission over Formosa (Taiwan). Afterwards, flown from Clark Field south to Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao. On December 14, 1942 in the morning during take off piloted by Lt. Connally a blew a tire on a bombing mission against Japanese forces off Legaspi and did not participate in the mission. On December 20, 1941 evacuated southward to Batchelor Field near Darwin. On December 22, 1941 took off from Batchelor Field as one of nine B-17s on a for a bombing mission against Japanese shipping in Davao Bay. Returning, the bombers landed at Del Monte Airfield and afterwards returned to Batchelor Field. On December 30, 1941 at 8:00am took off from Batchelor Field plus six B-17s led by Major Walsh on a flight to Singosari Airfield (Malang) on Java. At the time, this was the only operational B-17C Flying Fortress in theater. On January 8, 1942 in the morning took off from Singosari Airfield (Malang) piloted by Lt. Connally on a flight to Kendari II Airfield on Celebes (Sulawesi) then took off again on a bombing mission against Davao Bay on Mindanao. During the flight, this B-17 became separated before arriving over Davao Bay and bombed a large transport, but missed and returned to land at Kendari II Airfield. On January 11, 1942 at 5:55am took off from Singosari Airfield (Malang) piloted by Lt. Kurts and Lt. Connaly to bomb the Japanese invasion force off Tarakan. Encountered a storm over the Java Sea forcing the formation to climb up to 27,000'. Nearing the target, they observed a smoke column from the burning Borneo oil fields and experienced a drop in oil pressure from the No. 1 engine, but adjusted controls and continued on the mission. At 11:45am, this B-17 dropped its bombs over Tarakan from 29,000' and damage was reported as uncertain and turned back for base, but began loosing altitude, 100' per minute and instead landed at Soerabaja Airfield, after an 11 hour, 30 minute mission. The next day, the B-17 returned to Singosari Airfield. On January 19, 1942 took off from Singosari Airfield (Malang) piloted by Lt. Connally with co-pilot Major Combs armed with 100 pound bombs on a joint bombing mission including B-17s from the 19th BG and 7th BG against Jolo then land at Del Monte Airfield on Mindanao to pickup stranded personnel then return to Singosari Airfield. Over the target area, storms and clouds obscured Jolo so the bombers departed and spotting a hole in the clouds observed Japanese vessels. Aboard this B-17, bombardier Sgt. Fesmire had already stowed the bombsight and rushed to reinstall it. Flying in two groups of three bombers, the B-17s bombed the tanker and claimed many hits and with the ship sinking by the stern. Landing at Del Monte Airfield, the B-17s rescued stranded 19th BG personnel with evacuation priority for pilots. On January 20, 1942 after midnight took off again and returned to Singosari Airfield. For his role in this mission and evacuation flight, Connally earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Mission History On February 3, 1942 took off from Singosari Airfield (Malang) piloted by 1st Lt. Ray L. Cox (30th BS) on a test flight. Returning, this bomber was jumped by A6M2 Zeros and attempted to outrun them over the sea but was shot down and crashed in eastern Java. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). When lost, this was the last B-17C model still operating in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) theater. Wreckage On February 4, 1942 the crash site was found roughly 20 miles from Singosari Airfield (Malang) and was still smoldering. Recovery of Remains Afterwards, the remains of Sowa were recovered. Postwar, his remains were transported to the Philippines. Memorials The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. Six of the crew: Cox, Huse, Karlinger, Penny, Bingham and Barnes remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). All six are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Cox earned the Distinguished Service Cross, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Huse earned the Silver Star, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Oak Grove Cemetery in Bath, ME at plot 3 North Lot 18. Karlinger earned the Silver Star, Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Penny earned the Silver Star, Purple Heart, posthumously. Bingham earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Barnes earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at City of Lubbock Cemetery in Lubbock, TX at block 47. Sowa earned the Silver Star, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot N row 5 grave 84. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17C Fortress 40-2062 "2062 (93rd BS, 19th BG) shot down by Japanese fighters 10 mi S of Malang, Java Feb 3, 1942. 7 KIA" Associated Press (AP) photograph of the crew with this B-17 in Australia February 1942 released March 10, 1942 Missing Air Crew Report 16154 (MACR 16154) related to B-17E 41-2456 page 9 mentions this loss (Page 9) "3 Feb 42 The crew of B-17C [Serial] No. 40-2062, which was shot down and burned about ten miles south of Malang were: (all died in the crash). [list of crew]. The airplane was attacked by Japanese pursuit at the same time the field at Malang was being raided." Fortress Against The Sun (2001) pages 67, 77, 91, 100, 104, 116, 382, 404 (footnote 65), 404 (footnote 73), 405, 406 (footnote 44), 408 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ray L. Cox American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John E. L. Huse American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John U. Sowa American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Arthur E. Karlinger American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John S. Penny American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jack E. Bingham American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Don H. Barnes FindAGrave - Capt Ray Lawrence Cox (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt John Ernest Linwood Huse (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - John Ernest Linwood Huse (photo, biography, burial Malang) FindAGrave - John Ernest Huse (memorial marker, Oak Grove Cemetery) FindAGrave - SSgt John U. Sowa (grave photos) FindAGrave - Sgt Arthur E. Karlinger (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt John S. Penny (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - PFC Jack Edward Bingham (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Pvt Don Henry Barnes (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - PVT Don Henry Barnes (memorial marker photo) Thanks to William Bartsch and Edward Rogers for additional information 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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