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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 13th AF 5th BG 23rd BS  5th BG c1944 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Thomas M. Coberly, O-770950 (MIA / KIA, BR) Los Angeles, CA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Jerome "Jerry" Rosenthal, O-771130 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA Navigator 2nd Lt. Frederick H. Brennan Jr., O-2064512 (MIA / KIA) Santa Ana, CA Bombardier 2nd Lt. Philip R. Corrin, O-776633 (survived) Los Angeles, CA Engineer Sgt James F. Knoch, 39410685 (survived) Sacramento, CA Asst. Engineer Cpl Edward J. Haviland, 13141736 (survived) Baltimore, MD Radio Operator Cpl Daniel G. Illerich, 19188369 (survived) Sacramento, CA Asst. Radio Sgt Clarence T. Capin, 15374802 (survived) Fort Wayne, IN Gunner Cpl John R. Nelson, 19220892 (survived) Boise, ID Gunner SSgt Francis E. Harrington, 31092660 (survived) New Bedford, MA Photo/Gunner Sgt Elmer W. Phillips, 38259174 HQ Squadron (MIA / KIA) Baton Rouge, LA MIA November 16, 1944 at 11:35am MACR 10335 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 4860. Delivered to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-185-CO Liberator serial number 44-40924. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field to the South West Pacific Area (SPWA). Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force, 5th Bombardment Group, 23rd Bombardment Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines R-1830-65A serial numbers BP-443694, BP-443773, BP-443777 and BP-443576. Armed with ten .50 caliber machine guns, makers and serial numbers not listed in Missing Air Crew Report 10335 (MACR 10335). Mission History On November 16, 1944 took off from Pitu Airfield (APO 719) on Morotai Island piloted by 2nd Lt. Thomas M. Coberly armed with five 1,000 pound bombs as one of six B-24s from the 23rd Bombardment Squadron on a mission against Japanese warships in Brunei Bay in northwest Borneo. The formation also included B-24s from the 31st BS, 72nd BS and 394th BS plus six B-24s from the 307th Bombardment Group escorted by P-38 Lightnings. The weather was .3 low cumulus inbound with unlimited visibility over the target with no winds. Over the target at 11:00am at an altitude of 10,500' for roughly 12-14 minutes, the bombers were subjected to heavy anti-aircraft fire from gunners on the warships and land batteries with 2,000-5,000 bursts of fire observed by the formation of different colors: black, white, yellow, green, pink, red and blue. Hit by anti-aircraft fire, navigator Brennan was killed and the pilot Coberly badly injured and later died. Co-pilot Rosenthal was also was mortally wounded but continued to fly onward but after about 20 minutes, told the crew to bail out. Crew members aboard another B-24 in the formation observed parachutes from this bomber before it crashed around Lat 3° 50' N Long 116° 10'E over northern Borneo. When this B-24 failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was B-24J 44-40962 (6 MIA, 4 rescued). Fates of the Crew In fact, seven of the crew landed safely and were hidden for seven months by local people before being rescued seven months later. Knoch and Capin on June 6, 1945. Nelson on June 27, 1945. Corrin, Haviland, Illerich and Harrington on July 1, 1945. Memorials The four crew killed were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Three of the crew remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). All three are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Coberly is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot N Row 14 Grave 193. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24J-185-CO Liberator 44-40924 "40924 (5th BG) lost Nov 16, 1944, SW Pacific. MACR 10335" Missing Air Crew Report 10335 (MACR 10335) created June 29, 1945 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas M. Coberly American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jerome Rosenthal American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frederick H. Brennan Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Elmer W. Phillips FindAGrave - Sgt Elmer W Phillips, Jr (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Frederick H Brennan, Jr (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Thomas M Coberly (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - 2Lt Jerome "Jerry" Rosenthal (photos tablets of the missing) The Airmen and the Headhunters: A True Story of Lost Soldiers, Heroic Tribesmen and the Unlikeliest Rescue of World War II by Judith M. Heimann PBS / NOVA "Secrets of Dead" The Airmen and the Headhunters originally aired November 10, 2009 Thanks to Sharon Farley for additional information Contribute
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 B-24  MIA 3 Missing |
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