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  B-17E "Kai-O-Keleiwa" Serial Number 41-9224  
USAAF
13th AF
11th BG
98th BS

Pilot  1st Lt. Robert B. Loder, O-417173 (MIA / KIA) CA
Crew  1st Lt. Daniel H. Judd, O--417155 (MIA / KIA) CA
Crew  2nd Lt Don C. McCord, Jr., O-507271 (MIA / KIA) MS
Crew  Sgt James E. Dinagen, 11011326 (MIA / KIA) RI
Crew  Cpl Roy A. Knight, Jr., 6575608 (MIA / KIA) WA
Crew  SSgt Michael Lesso, Jr., 13004110 (MIA / KIA) PA
Crew  TSgt Carson Lockhart, 6927244 (MIA / KIA) VA
Crew  Cpl William Rainovic, 16009920 (MIA / KIA) WI
Crew  Sgt Jack F. Reinhart, 16021383 (MIA / KIA) MI
MIA  August 7, 1942
MACR  16436

Aircraft History
Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 2696. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17E Flying Fortress serial number 41-9224. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SoPAC).

Wartime History
Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 11th Bombardment Group (11th BG), 98th Bombardment Squadron (98th BS). Nicknamed "Kai-O-Keleiwa".

Mission History
On August 7, 1942 took off from Koumac Airfield on New Caledonia piloted by 1st Lt. Robert B. Loder a search mission. When this bomber failed to return the entire crew was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Wreckage
In the sea off Koumac is unidentified aircraft wreckage might be associated with this bomber.

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission and earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized on the courts of the missing at Honolulu National Cemetery (Punchbowl) on court 7.

McCord also has a memorial marker at Oak Grove Cemetery in Bel-Nor, MS.

Rainovic also has a memorial marker at Highland Memorial Park in New Berlin, WI at section 3.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17E 41-9224
"9224 (11th BG, 98th BS) MIA Aug 7, 1942 off New Caledonia. Crew of 9 MIA. MACR 16436 (issued 1948)"
Missing Air Crew Report 16436 (MACR 16436) was created retroactively in 1945 or 1946
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert B. Loder
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Daniel H. Judd
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Don C. McCord, Jr.
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James E. Dinagen
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Roy A. Knight, Jr.
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Michael Lesso, Jr.
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Carson Lockhart
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William Rainovic
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jack F. Reinhart
FindAGrave - 1Lt Robert B Loder (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - 1Lt Daniel H Judd (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - 2Lt Don C McCord, Jr (photo, courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Donald C McCord, Jr (courts of the missing)
FindAGrave - Donald Chylo McCord, Jr (photo, memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt James E Dinagen (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Corp Roy A Knight, Jr (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - SSgt Michael Lesso, Jr (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - TSgt Carson Lockhart (photo, courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Corp William Rainovic (courts of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - William Rainovic (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt Jack F Reinhart (courts of the missing photo)
Fortress Against The Sun pages 234 "...the 11th BG also lost another plane on August 7 when Lt Loder, B-17E (41-9224 Kai-O-Keleiwa), took off on a search mission from the 98th BS airfield on Koumac and failed to return.", 390 (B-17E 41-9224 30/72/98 19/5/11 Kai-O-Keleiwa Missing on reconnaissance mission, 7 August 42. May have crashed in mountains on New Caledonia. Pilot: 1st Lt. Robert B. Loder."

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Last Updated
February 5, 2024

 

Tech Info
B-17

MIA
MIA
9 Missing
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