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  B-25G-5 Mitchell Serial Number 42-64827  
USAAF
5th AF
38th BG
822nd BS

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Colin Jermy 1979
Pilot  1st Lt Ralph E. Freek, O-731963 (MIA / KIA) Mount Shasta, CA
Crew 2nd Lt Kenneth B. Lawton, O-738191 (MIA / KIA) Lewis, IA
Crew 1st Lt James E. Miller, O-662354 (MIA / KIA) Syracuse, NY
Crew SSgt Harold D. Sample, 18069891 (MIA / KIA) New Castle, CO
Crew  Sgt Roy E. Johnson, 37188079 (MIA / KIA) Aurora, MO
Crew  SSgt Anthony DeLeo, 12089012 (MIA / KIA) Long Island, NY
Crashed  January 16, 1944 at 10:30am
MACR  1698

Aircraft History
Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 96-16706. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25G-5 Mitchell serial number 42-64827. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
On September 17, 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG), 822nd Bombardment Squadron (822nd BS). No known nickname or nose art. Assigned to pilot Swonger.

On October 16, 1943 took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) on its first combat mission, a low level strike against Alexishafen Airfield.

On November 9, 1943 took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) piloted by 2nd Lt. Thomas L. Swonger on a low level strike against Alexishafen Airfield. This B-25 was the no. 3 plane in the last flight of the squadron over the target and was targeted by an Oscar that attacked from 2 o'clock and scored hits on the top turret canopy that killed gunner SSgt John A. Wright, 33165390.

When lost, engines: R-2600-13 serial numbers 42-271445 and 43-36322. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers not listed in Missing Air Crew Report 1698 (MACR 1698).

Mission History
On January 16, 1944 at 7:45am took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt Ralph E. Freek on armed with 300 pound bombs as one of twenty-one B-25s on a barge sweep (Mission 16-B) between Cape Croisilles to Cape Gourd on the north coast of New Guinea. Reaching the Nadzab area, the formation rendezvoused with escorting P-38 Lightnings. At 9:45am the formation arrived over Cape Croisilles and began a barge sweep along coast and strafed native huts and plantations. Over the target area, the weather was light cumulus clouds.

Over Cape Gourdon, seven B-25s from the 822nd Bombardment Squadron (822nd BS) headed south and were intercepted by six Ki-43-II Oscars from 59th Hiko Sentai (59th Flying Regiment). At this time, this B-25 was the No. 5 plane in the second flight and was targeted by the fighters. To evade their attacks, pilot Freek attempted a diving maneuver. Other B-25s observed pieces of this aircraft falling away. At 10:30am, last seen between Bunabun Harbor and Uligan Harbor trailing smoke. When this bomber failed to return, the entire crew was declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Recovery of Remains
After the crash, villagers recovered the remains of the crew and buried them in Aber village cemetery. In 1946, a RAAF Searcher Team visited the wreckage of this aircraft and located the remains of three of the crew in the wreckage.

Wreckage
This B-25 crashed into a coconut plantation near Aber inland from Uligan Harbor (Ulingen) at roughly Lat 5.01°  Long 145.40°.

After the crash, Constable Mais visited the crash site and found a the dog tag of Kenneth B. Lawton and reported the crash site to Australia New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU). Postwar, the aircraft was noted in RAAF Survey of Aircraft Wreckage, Papua New Guinea #315 and reported to American forces.

Colin Jermy recalls from 1979:
"Remains of crashed American B-25 on the recently burnt forest floor at Ulingen. It was quite near the coast in a plantation, but I cannot recall if it was north or south of the village. My brother definitely knew what flight it was, because he commented that the navigational instrument seen in the photo of assorted bits, was still set to their course. We collected together all the bits together for the second photo. I also found a Japanese water bottle with a bullet hole through it."

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After the 1946 recovery of remains, the crew was transported to the United States for perment burial. The entire crew was buried in a group burial at Fort McPherson National Cemetery at plot R graves 1-2.

SSgt John A. Wright, Jr. who was killed on November 9, 1943 was buried postwar at Howe Cemetery, Coal Center, PA at block E, grave 2.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Ralph E. Freek
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Kenneth B. Lawton
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James E. Miller
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harold D. Sample
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Anthony De Leo name spelled as two words "De Leo"
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25G-5 Mitchell 42-64827
"64827 (38th BG) lost Jan 16, 1944, New Guinea"
822nd Bombardment Squadron "Following is a report of the attack by 822nd Bombardment Squadron (M), 38th Bombardment Group (M) on targets at Alexishafen, New Guinea [9 November 1943]", 12 November 1943
(Page 2) "4. Our squadron was intercepted by at least 6 Zekes or Oscars after passing over the target. The attacks generally were not pressed closely. 15 or 20 Zekes and/or Oscars were soon observed airborne over the target, but excellent work by the P-38 cover prevented further attacks on our squadron. The escorting squadrons claim 17 Zekes and Oscars shot down.
The last flight of our squadron was attacked by at least 3 enemy fighters... Our gunner [SSgt John A. Wright] was killed a few moments later by fire from a Zeke or Oscar attacking from 2 o'clock. No P-38s were seen to attack the enemy aircraft... The only hit scored was the one which entered the turret canopy of our no. 3 ship [this B-25], killing the gunner."
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John A. Wright

FindAGrave - SSGT John A Wright Jr. (photo, news, grave photo)
Missing Air Crew Report 1698 (MACR 1698) created January 17, 1944
Australian War Memorial (AWM) ANGAU War Diary July 1944 (AWM52 1/10/1/67)
(Page 13) Constable Mais also found an American identification disc (dog tag) marked as follows:
"Kenneth B. Lawton
O738191   T43
Joseph E. Lawton
R. F. D. 2
Lewis, Iowa"
RAAF Survey of Aircraft Wreckage, Papua New Guinea page 9
"#315 | 05.01-145.40 | Aber | USAC Mitchell B-25G 42-64827 | Wreckage recovered near Aber Village"
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25 42-64827
FindAGrave - Ralph E Freek (grave photo)
FindAGrave - 2LT Kenneth Burddette Lawton (obituary grave photo)
FindAGrave - James E Miller (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Harold D Sample (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Roy E Johnson (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Anthony DeLeo (grave photo)
Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) pages 244 (November 9, 1943), 267-269, AII-7 , AIII-22
(Page 244) [November 9, 1943]... although one radio operator was shot through the heart and killed."
Thanks to Colin Jermy and Edward Rogers for additional information

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Last Updated
October 12, 2023

 

Tech Info
B-25

Map
Map
Jan 16, 1944

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