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| USAAF 10th AF 7th BG 9th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Lloyd K. Jensen, O-726248 (POW, survived) CA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Owen J. Baggett, O-791369 (POW, survived) Graham, TX Navigator 1st Lt. Max A. Davis, O-660462 (MIA / KIA March 31, 1943) CO Bombardier 2nd Lt. Bert J. Smith, O-727673 (MIA / KIA March 31, 1943) Millfield, OH Engineer TSgt Kenneth E. Schleicher, 12040427 (MIA / KIA March 31, 1943) Bloomfield, NJ Radio SSgt Stephen F. Burke, 11021671 (MIA / KIA March 31, 1943) Worcester, MA Gunner SSgt Samuel A. Crostic, Jr., 20367261 (POW, survived) VA Gunner SSgt Tadix E. Higginbotham, 18044472 (POW, survived) IL Gunner SSgt Joseph R. R. Mercier, 6146112 (MIA / KIA March 31, 1943) MA Crashed March 31, 1943 MACR 16275 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated in San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) B-24D Liberator serial number unknown. Possibly, B-24D "The Captain and the Kids" 41-24213. Ferried overseas to India. Wartime History Assigned to the 10th Air Force, 7th Bombardment Group, 9th Bombardment Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On March 31, 1943 took off from Gaya Airfield in India piloted by 1st Lt. Lloyd K. Jensen as one of six B-24s that on a bombing mission the Pyinmana Railroad Yards in Mandalay in Burma. Over the target, intercepted by enemy fighters and crashed near Rangoon (Yangoon). When this B-24 failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Before reaching the target, the formation was attacked by a Japanese fighters. During the intense air battle that followed, this B-24 was damaged and crashed. Five of the crew were killed in the bomber or were strafed as they descended in their parachutes. All five are listed as Missing In Action (MIA) including Davis, Smith, Schleicher, Burke and Mercier. It is unclear if Burke was captured or died on March 31, 1943. Co-pilot Baggett bailed out and while descending in his parachute claimed to shoot down an enemy fighter by shooting his Colt M1911 .45 caliber pistol at the aircraft and "hit the pilot in the head". Fates of the Crew On the ground, four of the crew were captured and became a Prisoner Of War (POW): Jensen, Baggett, Burke, Costic and Higginbotham. Jensen and Baggett were flown in a Japanese bomber to Singapore. Both were detained at Malaya POW Camp Malay 6-104. Baggett was was liberated September 21, 1945. Jensen was liberated on October 2, 1945. The other three crew members Burke, Costic and Higginbotham were detained at Burma #5 (Moulmein & Rangoon Jail) Burma 16-97. Burke died March 31, 1943. Costic was liberated on May 1, 1945. Higginbotham was liberated on May 2, 1945. Memorials The five missing crew members: Davis, Smith, Schleicher, Burke and Mercier were officially declared dead the day of the mission. All five are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. Higginbotham past away on July 15, 1988. He is buried at Union Cemetery in Bakersfield, CA at block B-69, plot 12. References This B-24 serial number is unknown, possibly B-24D "The Captain and the Kids" 41-24213. Missing Air Crew Report 16275 (MACR 16275) NARA World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files - Lloyd K. Jensen NARA World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files - Owen J. Baggett NARA World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files - Samuel A. Crostic, Jr. NARA World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files - Stephen F. Burke NARA World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files - Samuel A. Crostic, Jr. NARA World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files - Tadix E. Higginbotham NARA World War II Prisoners of the Japanese Data Files - Joseph R. R. Mercier American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Max A. Davis American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Bert J. Smith American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kenneth E. Schleicher American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Stephen F. Burke American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph R. R. Mercier Pictorial History of the 7th Bombardment Group/Wing page 286 (Baggett photo), 287 (Costic photo), 313 (index) FindAGrave - COL Owen John Baggett (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Bert J Smith (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Kenneth E Schleicher (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Stephen Francis Burke (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Tadix Edward "Red" Higginbotham (grave photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Joseph R R Mercier (tablets of the missing) Air War For Burma page 77 Thanks to Bob Livingstone for possible serial number 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  MIA 4 Prisoner 5 Missing |
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