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  PV-1 Ventura Bureau Number 34824  
USN
FAW-1
VB-148

Pilot  Lt. William E. Davis, O-104283, USNR (MIA / KIA) OH
Crew  Ensign Kevin O. Ahern, O-278001, USNR (MIA / KIA) Manchester, NH
Crew  AR3c Morris D. Franklin, 5566112 USNR (MIA / KIA) AZ
Crew  AMM2c Earl O. Hotaling, 6003807 USNR (MIA / KIA) NY
Crew  AOM3c Silas Jamison, Jr., 6804339 USNR (MIA / KIA) CA
MIA  May 3, 1944

Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed as model 237-27-01 in Burbank. Constructors Number 237-5714. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PV-1 Ventura bureau number 34924.

Wartime History
Assigned to Fleet Air Wing 1 (FAW-1) to Bombing Squadron 148 (VB-148). No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On May 3, 1944 took off from Munda Airfield on New Georgia piloted by Lt. Williams E. Davis on a routine targets of opportunity search mission over Bougainville. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead January 18, 1946. Davis earned the Air Medal. Each crew member earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. The entire crew is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

Hotaling also has a memorial marker at Riverside Cemetery in Coxsackie, NY.

References
Some sources incorrectly list this aircraft as PV-1 Ventura 34924 [sic, error in third digit], 34824
Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Kevin O. Ahern
Navy Serial Number Search Results - PV-1 Ventura 34824
"34824 (VB-148) missing 3-May-44 from Bougainville. 5 MIA"
USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List May 1944 - PV-1 34824
NARA "Bombing Squadron One Hundred Forty Eight - War Diary May 1944" pages 1-2
(Page 1) "4. One aircraft, with the entire crew, was declared missing and presumed lost when it failed to return from a routine target of opportunity search of Bougainville Island, 3 May 1944. The crew consisted of the following:
Lieutenant W. E. Davis, A-V(N), USNR, (104283).
Ensign K. O. Ahern, A-V(N), USRN. (278001).
Silas (n) Jamison, AOM3c, V-6, USNR. (680 43 39).
Morris Drake Franklin, Jr. ARM3c, V-6, USNR. (555 61 12).
Ear Oswald Hotaling, AMM2c, V-2, USNR. (600 38 07).
have been declared missing in action."
(Page 2) "Surveyed PV-1 Aircraft - 34833 - 34824"
News "Ens Kevin O. Ahern, Cpl Perry Missing"
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William E. Davis
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kevin O. Ahern
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Morris D. Franklin
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Earl O. Hotaling
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Silas Jamison Jr.

FindAGrave - Lt William E Davis (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Ens Kevin O Ahern (obituary, tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - ARM3 Morris D Franklin, Jr (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - AMM2 Earl O Hotaling (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Earl O. Hotaling (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - AOM3 Silas Jamison, Jr (tablets of the missing)
DPAA Personnel Profile - Lt Williams E. Davis incorrectly list aircraft as PV-1 Ventura (bureau number 34924) [sic PV-1 Ventura 34824]

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Last Updated
February 4, 2022

Tech InfoPV-1

MIAMIA
5 Missing
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