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| USAAF 13th AF 868th BS   868th BS c1944 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. William F. Plunkett, O-819160 (MIA / KIA) Allegheny County, PA Co-Pilot 2Lt. Marlin B. Bittinger, Jr. O-823795 (MIA / KIA, BR) Lakewood, OH Navigator 2nd Lt. John F. Davis, O-712520 (MIA / KIA, BR) Suffolk County, MA Radar Sgt Norman P. Vacca, 15354502 (MIA / KIA) Cuyahoga County, OH Engineer SSgt. Bernard W. Peters, 12095755 (MIA / KIA) Essex County, NJ Gunner Sgt. Arthur L. McGee, 33739143 (MIA / KIA) Somerset County, MD Radio SSgt. Frank C. Marcus, 36739143 (MIA / KIA) Cook County, IL Bombardier 2Lt. Charles M. MacNulty, O-709941 (MIA / KIA) Middlesex County, MA Radio-Gunner Sgt. Carlos J. Frey, 14128280 (MIA / KIA) Hillsborough County, FL Gunner Sgt. Melvin R. Flanary, 18162107 (MIA / KIA) Okfuskee County, OK Gunner Sgt. John M. Ferro, 32996694 (MIA / KIA) Nassau County, NY Crew F/O William E. Schick, T-126240 (MIA / KIA) Stark County, OH Crashed January 14, 1945 MACR 16011 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 3420. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-85-CO Liberator serial number 42-100271. Converted into a radar equipped SB-24 Liberator with a SRC-717B search and navigation radar instead of a ball. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 868th Bombardment Squadron (868th BS) "Snooper Squadron". Nicknamed "Lady June" with the nose art of a nude woman with arms stretched in a flying position spread eagle. On the left side of the nose was a scoreboard with yellow bomb markings indicating missions flown. Mission History On January 14, 1945 took off from Pitu Airfield (Pitoe, Moratai) from Morotai Island piloted by 2nd Lt. William F. Plunkett on a night mission and crashed to the sea. The entire crew was killed and were officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on January 14, 1945. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Bittinger is buried at Sunset Memorial Park in North Olmsted, OH at section section 2-R, Lot 387, Space 1. Davis is buried at Long Island National Cemetery at plot H grave 10045. McGee also has a memorial marker at American Legion Cemetery in Crisfield, MD. Flanary also has a memorial marker at Highland Cemetery in Okemah, OK. Relatives Charles MacNulty (nephew of Charles M. Mac Nulty) "I have been on a quest for a number of years collect information on SB-24 'Snooper' Liberator 868th Bomb Squadron 43rd Bomb Group 13th Air Force. My uncle and name sake was a bombardier on B-24 that was lost on or about 1/14/1945." References Note, some sources incorrectly list this aircraft as "Lady Jane" [sic] USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-85-CO Liberator 42-100271 Missing Air Crew Report 16011 (MACR 16011) created retroactively circa 1945-1946 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William F. Plunkett American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles M. Mac Nulty American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Norman P. Vacca American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William E. Schick American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Bernard W. Peters American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Arthur L. McGee American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank C. Marcus American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Melvin R. Flanary American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John M. Ferro FindAGrave - 2Lt William F Plunkett (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Lieut Marlin Blose Bittinger, Jr (photo, memorial marker) FindAGrave - John F Davis (grave photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Norman P Vacca (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Bernard W Peters (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Arthur Lee McGee, Jr (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Arthur Lee McGee, Jr (memorial marker) FindAGrave - SSgt Frank C Marcus (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Lieut Charles M MacNulty (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Carlos J Frey (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Melvin R. Flanary (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Melvin Ray Flanary (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - FltOff William E Schick (news, tablets of the missing) Thanks to Charles MacNulty 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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