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| USAAF 5th AF 380th BG 529th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Harold H. Van Wormer, O-736424 380th BG, 529th BS (POW, survived) Battle Creek, MI Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. John M. Peurifoy, Jr. (POW survived) McDonough, GA Navigator Lt. Charles H. Shaver, O-797085 (POW, survived) Lee, MA Bombardier 1st Lt. Herman J. Dias, O-729959 (MIA / KIA) SF, CA Engineer SSgt Charles B. Schofield, 18120807 (POW survived) NM Nose Turret SSgt John H. Mohr, 16099581 (MIA / KIA) Cook County, IL Radio SSgt Walter K. Gomer, 11047714 (POW survived) MA Top Turret SSgt Stewart A. Anderson, 31145258 (POW survived) Hartford, CT Waist Gunner SSgt Louis J. Aiani, 16145097 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Tunnel Gunner SSgt Thomas J. O'Donnell, Jr., 12155037 (MIA / KIA) NY Tail Gunner SSgt William F. Barbee, 18010876 (MIA / KIA) Harris County, TX Crashed January 19, 1944 MACR 2598 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego between September 10-21, 1943. Constructors Number 2757. On September 23, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-20-CO Liberator serial number 42-73187. Project Number 96292-R. On September 26, 1943 flown to the modification center at Tucson, Arizona. On October 4, 1943 flown to Florence, South Carolina. On October 17, 1943 took off from Fairfield Airfield on a ferried flight via Hickam Field and across the Pacific before arriving at Garbutt Field on October 22, 1943. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG), 529th Bombardment Squadron (529th BS) based at Long Field. Nicknamed "Paper Doll" with the nose art of a female blonde nude laying with her back upward and holding her hair with both hands. On January 17, 1944 first combat mission (FEN IV-7) took off piloted by Stevens with crew 29 on a reconnaissance mission over Manokwari and Noemfoor. Mission History On January 19, 1944 second combat mission (FEN IV-11) took off piloted by Harold H. Van Wormer with crew 45 on a bombing mission against Ambon. Over the target, this B-24 was intercepted and shot down by Japanese fighters, 30 miles south of Ambon and "exploded upon contact with the ocean". Also lost was B-24J "Doodlebug" 42-73117 (KIA / rescued). Officially stricken off charge November 9, 1944. Fates of the Crew Five crew: Dias, Aiani, O'Donnell Mohr and Barbee were killed in the crash and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). All five are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Seven of the crew Van Wormer, Peurifoy, Shaver, Schofield, Anderson and Gomer managed to deploy a five man life raft and survived at sea for twelve days until captured by the Japanese and became Prisoners Of War (POW). Mohr earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Tinley Park, IL. Shaver was taken prisoner by the Japanese and transported to Japan and survived captivity until the end of the Pacific War. At the end of the Pacific War he was interned at Tokyo POW Camp Branch #2 (Kawasaki). Anderson passed away on July 28, 1973 at age 56. He is buried at Ridgebury Cemetery in Ridgefield, CT. Van Wormer passed away on March 20, 1999 at age 80. He is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brook Park, OH. Schofield passed away on June 6, 2020 at age 100. He is buried at La Plata Cemetery in La Plata, NM. References Note, many sources associate this serial number with B-24D "Paper Doll" incorrectly. Previously, bombardier 1st Lt. Herman Dias and navigator Lt. Charles Shaver were assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 64th Bombardment Squadron (64th BS). On July 11, 1943 both survived the ditching of B-17F "Black Jack" 41-24521 and were rescued and returned to duty. Afterwards, both were transferred to the 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG), 529th Bombardment Squadron (529th BS) and assigned to 1st Lt. Harold H. Van Wormer's crew 45. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-20-CO Liberator 42-73187 "73187 (380th BG) lost Jan 19, 1944, SW Pacific." Missing Air Crew Report 2598 (MACR 2598) created January 20, 1944 NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Harold H. Van Wormer NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - John M. Peurifoy, Jr. NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Charles H. Shaver NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Charles B. Schofield NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Walter K. Gomer NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Stewart A. Anderson King of the Heavies - 380th Bomb Group, 1942-1945 by Horton & Horton The Best in the Southwest (1995) page 153 (photo) 380th BG Association - B-24 Paper Doll Data Sheet 380th BG Association - B-24 Paper Doll Mission Record FindAGrave - Harold Harley VanWormer (photos) FindAGrave - LTC John Millard Peurifoy Jr. (grave photos, news) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Charles Henry Shaver (grave photos) FindAGrave - Charles Henry Shaver (grave photos) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Herman J. Dias FindAGrave - 1Lt Herman J Dias (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Charles Bingham Schofield (photos, obituary) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John H. Mohr FindAGrave - SSgt John H Mohr (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - John H Mohr (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Walter K. Gomer (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Stewart A. Anderson (grave photos) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Louis J. Aiani FindAGrave - SSgt Louis J. Aiani (photo, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas J. O'Donnell, Jr. FindAGrave - SSgt Thomas J O'Donnell, Jr (tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William F. Barbee FindAGrave - SSgt William F “Billy” Barbee (tablets of the missing photo) Thanks to Steve Birdsall, Pete Johnston and Robert Livingstone 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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 B-24  Photo Archive  Map Jan 19, 1944  MIA / POW 6 Prisoner 5 Missing |
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