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| USAAF 5th AF 22nd BG 408th BS Former Assignment 18th RS |
Pilot 1st Lt Herbert C. Mayes, O-406421 (MIA / KIA) CA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Garrett H. McCallister, O-388997 (MIA / KIA) Shawnee, OK Navigator 2nd Lt. William D. Hargis Jr., O-429474 (MIA / KIA) OK Bombardier 2nd Lt. Gerald J. Barnicle, O-432965 (MIA / KIA) MA Nose Gunner SSgt Salvatore Battaglia, 6976250 (MIA / KIA) NY Engineer / Top Turret Gunner Pvt Benjamin F. Huffstickler, 14021810 (MIA / KIA) NC Tail Gunner Pvt Roy W. Walters, 12029059 (MIA / KIA) PA MIA June 4, 1942 at 7:05am MACR 16386 Aircraft History Built by Martin in Baltimore, Maryland. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-26 Marauder serial number 40-1424. In the middle of 1941, assigned to the 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (18th RS) at Langley Field, Virginia. Assigned plane number 22 to pilot McClaren. Disassembled and shipped as cargo aboard a shipped to Oahu. During May 1942, one of the last B-26s reassembled at Hickam Field by the Hawaiian Air Depot (HAD). The stateside markings were over painted but retained the six U.S. star markings and "U.S. Army" on the bottom of both wings. The serial number, minus the first number "01424" was painted in yellow on both sides of the rear fuselage. Nicknamed "Satan's Playmate". On April 22, 1942 redesignated 408th Bombardment Squadron (408th BS). This B-26 was at Hickam Field waiting for two other B-26s to be ready for a ferry flight across the Pacific bound for Australia. Instead, during early June 1942 this bomber and B-26 "Susie-Q" 40-1391 from the 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd), 408th Bombardment Squadron (408th BS) plus two B-26s from the 38th Bombardment Group, 69th Bombardment Squadron flown to Midway Airfield to defend against the Japanese fleet that was expected to attack Midway Atoll. Mission History On June 4, 1942 at 6:30am during the Battle of Midway took of from Midway Airfield on Eastern Island piloted by 1st Lt Herbert C. Mayes armed with an aerial torpedo on a mission to attack Japanese Navy vessels during the Battle of Midway. The weather was described as "very good". The formation of four B-26 Marauders included two from the 38th Bombardment Group, 69th Bombardment Squadron plus two B-26s from the 22nd Bombardment Group, 408th Bombardment Squadron (including this aircraft). The formation was led by the B-26B "Winsoki" pilot Captain James F. Collins (38th BG, 69th BS), with left wingman (this aircraft) B-26 "Satan's Playmate" 40-1424 piloted by 1st Lt Herbert C. Mayes and right wingman B-26 41-17570 pilot 1st Lt William S. Watson. Behind them was B-26 "Susie-Q" 40-1391 piloted by 1st Lt. James P. Muri. At 7:10am, the formation attacked the Japanese Navy carrier force roughly 150 miles northwest of Midway Atoll. Flying in a diamond formation at 700' altitude the bombers descend to 200' to make their torpedo attack. The B-26 formation was intercepted by two A6M2 Zeros flying a Combat Air Patrol (CAP) and defensive anti-aircraft fire from Akagi. During the attack, this bomber was shot down by enemy fighters and anti-aircraft fire at 7:05am. When this B-26 failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. The entire crew earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing. Mayes, McCallister, Hargis, Barnicle and Battaglia on court 7. Walters on court 5. McCallister also has a memorial marker at Fairview Cemetery in Shawnee, OK and Resthaven Memorial Park in Shawnee, OK. Barnicle also has a memorial marker at Saint Bernards Cemetery in Fitchburg, MA. Huffstickler also has a memorial marker at Hollywood Cemetery in Gastonia, NC. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-26 Marauder 40-1424 "40-1424 (22nd BG, 408th BS, 5th AF) shot down by flak and fighters in Battle of Midway Jun 4, 1942. MACR 16386. All 7 crew killed." Missing Air Crew Report 16386 (MACR 16386) includes details both MIA crews on June 4, 1942 Mayes (B-26B 41-17570) and Watson (B-26B 40-1424) bombers and of created retroactively between 1943-1948 [Page 2] Type of mission: Bombing [sic, torpedo] [Page 3] "This MACR comprises two crews of B-26 bombers. As we as unable to determine who is with what crew we are sending them along this way" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Herbert C. Mayes American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Garrett H. McCallister American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William D. Hargis Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gerald J. Barnicle American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Salvatore M. Battaglia American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Benjamin F. Huffstickler American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Roy W. Walters FindAGrave - 1Lt Herbert C Mayes (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Garrett H McCallister (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Garrett H McCallister (memorial marker Fairview Cemetery) FindAGrave - Lieut Garrett H. McCallister (obituary, memorial marker Resthaven Memorial Park) FindAGrave - 2Lt William D Hargis, Jr (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Gerald J Barnicle (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Gerald Joseph Barnicle (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - TSgt Salvatore M Battaglia (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SGT Benjamin Franklin Huffstickler, Jr (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Benjamin Franklin Huffstickler, Jr (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Roy W Walters (courts of the missing photo) The Midway Marauders - B26 Midway Marauders 1942 22nd BG 38th BG via Wayback Machine March 3, 2016 Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 101-105, 283 (painting) 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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