Aircraft History
Built by North American. Delivered to the U. S. Army. Ferried overseas via Hawaii to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 38th Bombardment Group, 405th Bombardment Squadron. No known nose art or nickname. When lost engines R-2600-13 serial numbers 41-29310 and 41-2890.

Mission History
On October 12, 1943 took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby on a bombing mission against Rabaul. Last sighted three miles NNE of Kerevat Airfield.

Wreckage
Postwar, a RAAF Searcher Team located the crash site at at roughly 04.26 152.04. The remains of the crew were recovered and transported to the United States.

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After the recovery of remains, the crew were transported to the United States for permanent burial.

Crews is buried at Fort Gibson National Cemetery at section 5, site 3021-A.
Branzell at Arlington National Cemetery at section 34 site 2815.
Patrick, Cleveland and Hannan are buried in a group burial at Marietta National Cemetery at section Q site 125.

References
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25D Mitchell 41-30239
FindAGrave - Edsal J Crews (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Lewis A Cleveland (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - Lieut George R Branzell (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Robert E Hannan, Jr (group burial photo
FindAGrave - James J Patrick (group burial photo)

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Last Updated
February 4, 2018