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| USAAF 5th AF 3rd BG 13th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Hubert J. Rapp (KIA, BR) Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Robert J. Hand, Jr, O-724612 (KIA, BR) WA Crew Sgt Francis M. Fowler (KIA, BR) Crew Sgt Francis H. Pryor (KIA, BR) Crew Sgt Marlon K. Smith (KIA , BR) LA Crashed September 4, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Inglewood. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25C Mitchell serial number 41-12480. Purchased by the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEIAF) with serial number N5-128 (other sources list the serial number as N5-150). Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia arriving in early 1942. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 13th Bombardment Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On September 4, 1942 at 4:00pm took off from 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Hubert J. Rapp as one of six B-25s that on a mission to bomb Japanese warships in Milne Bay, but found nothing. Returning in darkness, this B-25 developed problems with the left engine and was last seen between Samarai Island and Hood Point. Also lost was B-25C "The Queen" 41-12472 (MIA). Officially, condemned September 7, 1942. Wreckage This B-25 crashed into shallow water at Kupiano Harbor. Recovery of Remains The next day, natives recovered all five bodies and delivered them to a Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) representative. All five were temporarily buried in New Guinea. Postwar, they were transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Rapp is buried at Norton Cemetery in Norton, KS. Hand is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at Plot P, grave 331. Smith is buried at Ellis Cemetery in Franklinton, LA. References 13th Bombardment Squadron History PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25C Mitchell 42-12480 (Page 7) "...handed over to 3 BG personnel together with the B-25’s 41-12480/N5-150" (Page 15) "Table I Table I B-25C’s ferried to Australia - 12480 N5-150?" (Page 18) "Footnote 20: N5-150 and -154 can (both) only be 41-12441 or 41-12480." Early NAA B-25C Mitchells of the ML/KNIL, February 1942-June 1942 by Dr. P.C. Boer, 2009 FindAGrave - Hubert Rapp FindAGrave - Robert D Hand, Jr (grave photo) FindAGrave - Marlon K. Smith (grave photo) Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis 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-25  MIA 5 Missing Resolved |
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