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  B-25D Mitchell Serial Number ?  
USAAF
5th AF
71st TRG
17th TRS

Pilot  2nd Lt. Howard C. Wood, O-664709 (MIA / KIA) Kings County, CA
Co-Pilot  2nd Lt. Marcos A. Baggese, O-689185 (MIA / KIA) Jefferson County, TX
Observer  2nd Lt. Robert C. Hagerstrom, 1180195 (MIA / KIA) Cedar Falls, IA
Armour/Gunner  Sgt Virgil C. Harrelson, 38197434 (MIA / KIA) St. Tammany Parish, LA
Radio/Gunner  SSgt Frank J. Brunk, 16087489 (MIA / KIA) Chesterton, IN
Photo/Gunner  Sgt Robert E. Bodi, 15374006 (MIA / KIA) Lucas County, OH
MIA  June 8, 1944
MACR  16311

Aircraft History
Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number unknown. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D Mitchell serial number unknown. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (71st TRG), 17th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (17th TRS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engine and weapon serial numbers not noted in Missing Air Crew Report 16311 (MACR 16311).

Mission History
On June 8, 1944 at 9:55am took off from Wakde Airfield piloted by 2nd Lt. Howard C. Wood (Mission #160 B-310) as one of ten B-25s led by B-25D pilot Major Tennille to attack a Japanese force of two cruisers and six destroyers bound for Biak.

At 12:15pm the B-25s rendezvous with an escort of 24 P-38 Lightnings at Lat 1° 30' S Long 134° 8' E and the fighters spotted the enemy convoy at approximately Lat 0° 50' S Long 132° 50' E. The B-25s were flying in a "V of V's" formation and maneuvered until 1:15pm when they spotted the convoy performing a 90° turn to the north and formed a battle formation. At this point, the B-25s broke formation into two ship elements for their attacks that became known as the Battle of Cape Waios.

The two plane element led by B-25D pilot Major Tennille with 2nd Lt. Wood targeted the rearmost destroyer (likely Harusame) in a feint and a dropped one bomb that missed then headed for the cruiser nearby but were both hit by anti-aircraft fire and was shot down landing in the sea at approximately Lat 0° 45' S Long 132° 45' E. Also shot down by anti-aircraft fire in the same attack was B-25D pilot Major Tennille (MIA). Also lost was B-25D pilot Captain Lind (MIA). When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). During their attack, the B-25s claimed four Japanese destroyers sunk but only Harusame was hit and sunk.

After the mission, General Douglas MacArthur commented on the B-25s: "The job was magnificently done," General Ennis Whitehead who said, "This squadron has this date performed one of the finest military feats of the war." Of the seven B-25s that returned, five were damaged.

Memorials
The entire crew was presumed dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

Wood eaned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Air Medal and Purple Heart. He was posthumously promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

Baggese earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously

Hagerstrom earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Harrelson earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Brunk earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Chesterton Cemetery in Chesterton, IN.

Bodi earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

References
Missing Air Crew Report 16311 (MACR 16311) created retroactively circa 1945-1945 list co-pilot as "Brggesse" [sic Baggese]
"Narrative Report on Mission 160 B-310 performed by the 17th Reconnaissance Squadron (Bomb) 8 June 1944" pages 1-3
Letter "Congratulations 17th TRS" Major General Ennis C. Whitehead June 8, 1944
Letter "Commendation from General Macarthur" via Major General Ennis C. Whitehead June 10, 1944
Call Bulletin "How Jap Flotillas Sank" by Spencer Davis, AP Staff Writer June 13, 1944 pages 1-2
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Howard C. Wood
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Marcos A. Baggese
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert C. Hagerstrom
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Virgil C. Harrelson
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank J. Brunk
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert F. Bodi
FindAGrave - 1Lt Howard C Wood (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - 2Lt Marcos A Baggese (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - 2Lt Robert C Hagerstrom (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Sgt Virgil C Harrelson (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - SSgt Frank J Brunk (tablets of the missing, obituary, news article, memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt Robert F Bodi (tablets of the missing)
17th Special Operations Squadron History - 17th SOS History
"During the Battle of Cape Waios, ten Mitchells from the 17th RS(B) intercepted a Japanese task force intended on retaking the island of Biak. The squadron commander, Maj. William G. Tennille, lead two sections of B-25s in a low level attack scoring direct hits on four destroyers loaded with Japanese troops. The squadron paid a heavy price during the battle. The 17th lost three crews to include the squadron commander to Japanese anti-aircraft fire. Their actions were noted by Gen. Douglas MacArthur when he said, “The job was magnificently done,” and by Gen. Ennis Clement Whitehead who said, “This squadron has this date performed one of the finest military feats of the war.” Maj. William Tennille and Lt. Howard Wood were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for their actions."

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Last Updated
July 3, 2021

 

Tech Info
B-25

MIA
MIA
6 Missing
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