|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 22nd BG HQ Squadron  Damien Parer June 9, 1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Willis G. Bench, O-420822 (MIA / KIA) Coweta, OK Co-Pilot P/O Lorne Allan John Passmore, RAAF 412675 (MIA / KIA) Rose Bay, NSW Bombardier Cpl Alex Makuch, 13011250 (MIA / KIA) Windber, PA Navigator 2/Lt Harold P. Beck, O-434966 (MIA / KIA) Caledonia, MN Radio S/Sgt Samuel Siegel, 6905713 (MIA / KIA) Bronx, NY Engineer Cpl George H. Miles, 13001411 (MIA / KIA) Altoona, PA Gunner Cpl Robert A. Rockefeller, 7071440 (MIA / KIA) Hamilton, MT Passenger Lt Col Francis R. Stevens, U.S. Army O-15779 (MIA / KIA) Chilton County, AL Crashed June 9, 1942 MACR 16074 Aircraft History Built by Martin in Baltimore, Maryland. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-26 Marauder serial number 40-1508. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 22nd Bombardment Group, Headquarters Squadron. Nicknamed "The Virginian". below the right side of the cockpit. No known nose art. Mission History On June 9, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Willis G. Bench as one of eleven B-26s on a bombing mission against Lae and Salamaua with other B-25 Mitchells and B-17 Flying Fortresses. In the same formation was B-26 "Heckling Hare" 40-1488 with passenger Commander Lyndon B Johnson (who later became U.S. President), but this aircraft aborted the mission before reaching the target and returned to base. Over the target, the formation was attacked by up to 20 A6M2 Zeros. Bench took his B-26 down to sea level in an attempt to evade and escape, but was shot down into a bay approximately 30 miles south of Salamaua. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead June 8, 1942, incorrectly. The Americans are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Bench earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Bench Vernon Cemetery in Coweta, OK at section O, War Veteran's Cenotaph Memorial. Passmore was officially declared dead on June 9, 1942. He is memorialized at Lae War Cemetery on the Lae Memorial, panel 6. Makuch earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Beck earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Siegel earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Miles earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Buck Valley Christian Church Cemetery in Warfordsburg, PA. Rockefeller earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Stevens earned Distinguished Service Cross (DSC), Legion of Merit and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery at section 17, site 24073-40. Stevens also has another memorial marker at Columbia City Cemetery in Columbia, MS. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-26 40-1508 "1508 (22nd BG, Headquarters BS, 5th AF, "The Virginian") shot down by A6M2 30 mi off Salamaua Morobe, Papua New Guinea Jun 9, 1942. MACR 16074. All 8 crew killed" Missing Air Crew Report 16074 (MACR 16074) was created retroactively circa 1945 or 1946 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-26 40-1508 Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 100, 105-107, 474, 489 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Willis G. Bench FindAGrave - 1Lt Willis G Bench (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Willis G. Bench (memorial marker photo) Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) - Lorne Allan John Passmore FindAGrave - Pilot Officer Lorne Allan Passmore (Lae War Memorial Photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alex Makuch FindAGrave - Corp Alex Makuch (tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold P. Beck FindAGrave - 2Lt Harold Peter Beck (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Samuel Siegel FindAGrave - SSgt Samuel Siegel (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George H. Miles FindAGrave - Corp George H Miles (memorial marker photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - CPL George H Miles (memorial marker) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert A. Rockefeller FindAGrave - Corp Robert Allen Rockefeller (photo, tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Francis R. Stevens FindAGrave - LtCol Francis R Stevens (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - LTC Francis Robert Stevens (photo, Arlington memorial marker) Revenge of the Red Raiders: The Illustrated History of the 22nd Bombardment Group During World War II (2006) 107 (photos), 474 (June 9, 1942 40-1508), 489 (HQ Squadron, 40-1508), 516 -516 (nickname), 622 (index "The Virginian") Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
|
 B-26  MIA 8 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
