This page is for people who have questions for group
members to try and answer. Email me at sunsetter@attbi.com
and I will post your question on this page.
UPDATED 4/15/02
I'm trying to locate any information or anyone who knew S/Sgt Charles (Chuck)
Donald Plageman. He was a radio op/ gunner with the 823rd Squadron. His plane
went down in the Coral Sea approx. 100 miles south of Port Moresby on January
28, 1944. Thanks! sunsetter@attbi.com
Donald is the one on the far right. This picture was taken in Chicago during
radio op school. I HIGHLY desire a crew picture with him in it and have tried to
find one for seven years now without luck. If you have one, PLEASE share a copy
of it with me. I understand that he stayed with the Renshaw crew (823rd) until
they all were killed. Following this is a transcript of his MACR (missing aircrew
report)
This is the report filed on his flight
:
B25G-1, number 42-64881 was received
from the 4th Air Depot Group, Townsville for transfer to 38th
Bomb Group. Took off from Garbutt Field, Townsville for Durand Field, Port
Moresby at 11:30 January 28,1944. Plane never reached destination. A radio check
of all fields in Australia and New Guinea within range failed to reveal 881's
whereabouts. Radio message requesting crew and passenger list was sent to Base
Operations, Garbutt Field, was received and answered, but message was garbled.
Another radio message was sent requesting written crew and passenger list to be
sent Safe Hand Courier, answer not yet received. Rescue Service, Advance Echelon
Fifth Air Force, APO 929 was immediately notified. Extent of Rescue Service
search unknown. Aircraft of 38th Bomb Group made intensive search of sea and
coast with 100 miles range of Port Moresby. Aircraft of 38th Bomb Group enroute
to Townsville for modification reported sighting possible wreckage 97 miles
south of Port Moresby. Other aircraft of 38th Bomb Group
made intensive search of this area. While searching this area, plane
42-64810 is also missing. Search for both planes continuing.
If anyone knows ANYTHING about this,
PLEASE e-mail me. sunsetter@attbi.com
This is Bud Palmer of the 823rd Squadron. Herb Witcher who
was originally with the 823rd and was transferred to the 71st would like to find
out whatever happened to Bud. If anyone knows anything, please contact Ed Connor
(Herb's son-in-law) at simbascar@peoplepc.com
or you can email me if you can't get in touch with Ed at sunsetter@attbi.com
Does anyone remember Jack J. Collom from St. Louis, MO.
He was a Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner with the 71st Squadron. His son, Mark
Collom would like to hear from anyone who might have known his dad. He has
Jack's "Short Snorter" and it has the names of his friends and places
they've been. Jack passed away in 1974 and never really talked too much about
the war to his son. You can contact Mark at lcollom@mail.win.org
or mcollom@st-louis.net or
call him at 314-388-0722 or contact me at sunsetter@attbi.com
Did anyone know Abner Yoder? He was killed while
serving with the 405th Squadron on Feb.17, 1944 while flight testing and crashed
on landing. Abner's sisters would like any information from anyone who might
have known him.. If you knew Abner or might have some information on
him, please email his nephew Tim Conrad at tconrad@agere.com
or me at sunsetter@attbi.com
We were returning to 17 Mile from Dobodura when Lt. Apai called that he was
having a problem with one of his engines and was returning to Dobo. I was flying
with Lt. George Flannery i old #197, in #2 position, so we took over the lead.
Sgt. Yoder was in Lt. Apai's ship, along with six other men, and the ship was
loaded with all kinds of gear, they most probably were at max allowable weight,
or more. At Dobo they made a single engine approach and had to execute a missed
approach for some reason? Anyway, making a missed approach on one engine at a
heavy weight is usually a fatal error. They crashed and all were killed. That
was on 2/17/44. (H.E. Terrell)
Did anyone know James A. Henderson? (71st Squadron) His
aircraft and the remains of his crew have been located, but not recovered yet.
His plane is in the Finnistere Mountains at 11,000 ft elevation. Alfred Hagen
located the crash site. His widow, sister, and cousin would like to hear from
anyone who might have known him. They are wondering if the aircraft he flew in
had a name? They think it was "Wolfpack (something)". They also would
like to find a picture of him and his crew. Please contact John A. Hitchcock
at frances@iei.net or contact
me at sunsetter@attbi.com.(NOTE
FROM CHRIS GUEST- MICHAEL CLARINGBOULD E-MAILED ME AND STATED THAT THIS WRECK
LIES AT 9000ft, NOT 11,000ft. IT IS B-25#41-30182 ASSIGNED TO THE 71ST SQUADRON
ON 7/22/43 AS A STRAFER FROM THE 4TH AIR DEPOT AT TOWNSVILLE. IT WAS ASSIGNED TO
PILOTS PAQUIN AND CRONN AND PROBABLY OTHERS. THE PLANE WAS LOST ON A COURRIER
MISSION TO SAIDOR 7/1/44. I AM UNSURE OF A NICKNAME FOR THIS PLANE. IT MIGHT
HAVE BEEN "KINGS CROSS KATIE", BUT THAT COULD JUST AS EASILY BE 3-4
OTHER PLANES FROM THE SQUADRON WHICH I HAVE NOT YET IDENTIFIED. "KINGS
CROSS KATIE" IS THE ONLY UNIDENTIFIED 71ST PLANE NICKNAME FROM THAT PERIOD
THAT I HAVE. 1/16/02
Would like to hear from anyone who knows about a
bombing mission over Choshu, Formosa by sixty-three B-25s on Feb. 20, 1945. The
railroad yards, vehicles, railroad stock, and buildings were damaged. The
Japanese had an active airfield there at the time. If you know anything about
this mission, please contact Paul Hsiao at prxm98@aol.com
or me at sunsetter@attbi.com.
I was/am conducting an exhaustive research project into the B-26
Marauder,with an ultimate aim of putting this into print. Am particularly
interested in identifying Martin B-26 Marauder aircraft and crew details, etc,
that served with the 38th BG as part of this project. Can you help? I am aware
that only 2 squadrons ( 69th & 70th BS ) operated the type for a short while
before they were transferred to other 5th AF units. Any information and pointers
you can give would be very much appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Best wishes
Paul Clouting PClouting@cmlmicro.co.uk
Does anybody remember Lt. David Kurtz? 405th
Squadron, 1944-45. His son would like to get in contact with anyone who might
have known him. Now his son is in the Air National Guard and is deployed at the
moment, so he asks that any email sent to his address have "405th" as
the subject so that his wife will know what it is and save it for him. You can
e-mail M/Sgt. David Kurtz NCANG at DaveK64@aol.com
Fred Stuart, brother
of Paul A. Stuart (71st. Squadron), would like to contact anyone who knew or
flew with Paul. Paul A. Stuart died May 16, 1995. Fred is now 80 years old and
would like anyone that knew Paul to e-mail him at fnavy1@olivianc.net
Fred is a retired Captain of the USNR.
Walt Deas has been researching a downed B-25 #41-30118
and its crew. The aircraft lies in 60ft of water off the Papau New
Guinea coast. It was shot down on August 4, 1943. All the crew survived the
crash bar one. They were all captured and eventually executed (murdered) by the
Japanese, except one officer (Major Cox) who was shipped to Japan for further
interrogation. He survived the war. He is seeking relatives and photographs of
the following crew members. Next of kin are listed as known in 1943: Lt. Robert
J. Koscelnak. Co-pilot (mother was Mrs. Elizabeth P. Koscelnak, 7140 South
California, Orange, California.), Lt. Louis L. Ritacco. Navigator. (Mother- Mary
Ritacco, 112 Haseco Ave. Port Chester, not sure if in New Jersey or New York.
His wife was Mrs. Rita Ritacco, address unknown. T/Sgt. Hugh W. Anderson. Radio
Operator from Texas. Mother- Mrs. Myrtle Rosie Anderson, Box 236, Aspermont, TX.
S/Sgt Raymond J. Zimmerman. (KIA in the crash). Father- Mr. William F.
Zimmerman, Route 3, Box 37, Oregon City
Oregon......................................................................................He
has sent out countless letters to most of those surnames listed in the USA
telephone directories, but as yet, no luck. ANY help would be
appreciated!.....He has one photo of the pilot Captain Robert Herry and two of the command pilot,
Major Williston Cox, information leading to any other pictures would be most
welcomed...................................................................................................
waltdeas@broad.net.au
(Webmaster note) Walt is putting together a
video documetary of this project titled "Bomber Reef." Walt and his
wife have won many awards for their work in video documetaries dating back to
the 1960s. He has sent me a trailer (sample) of this project and I can tell you
it's first rate! This project is in need of some corporate sponsorship in order
to be completed. It tells a story that I feel needs to be told. If you think you
can help in any way, please contact Walt or me. Thank you.
Theresa Green is trying to locate anyone who
might have known her uncle, S/Sgt. Rudolph B. Williamson, 405th Squadron. His
plane went down near the Admiralty Islands on Feb. 29, 1944. If you knew him,
please contact Theresa at reece24@bellsouth.net
, or me at sunsetter@attbi.com .
Brian Lenderink is searching for information
about his uncle, 2nd.Lt. Elmer P. Brinkman of the 71st. Squadron. He was
reported missing January 7, 1943. The Army listed Elmer as missing for 7 years
before declaring him dead. The family knows very little about the circumstances
relating to his death. They would like to establish contact with anyone who
might have known him or at least knows information of his last flight. You can
contact Brian at lenderinks@earthlink.net
or blenderink@psiint.com . You can
also call Brian at (703) 507-8409. Or you can contact the webmaster at sunsetter@attbi.com
.
Looking for any info on T/Sgt. Robert (Frenchie)
Richard, believed to have been a Green Dragon (405th) member. He was a Radio
Op/Gunner from Louisiana (Church Point- New Orleans). He spoke with a Cajun
accent. My wife Rose Marie is his daughter. Prior to his death (1980?), he
remarked several times that he regretted not keeping up with his buddies. He
served only in the Pacific theater, originally passing through or based in
Australia. Later in the war, he was based in New Guinea and then the
Philippines. Thanks for any help you can give my wife. Colonel (Retired) Victor
Lent, Master Army Aviator, Vietnam 1969. gridiron@bigfoot.com
James Charles Gryc would like to hear from his
buddies who might have known him when he was with the 71st Squadron. He joined
the 71st. as a Bombadier in Feb. of 1942. He started at Brisbane and then moved
up to Townsville to join up with the planes. He went on to Port Moresby, and
then on to Nadzab where he finished up his tour with 50 missions. He came in
with a pilot named Paul Walks who flew a couple of missions and then flew no
more. He then flew with a few other pilots finishing up his tour with a pilot
called "Nelson". mfranz6964@aol.com
I am looking for information and photos that would
include my late father James E. Reese, originally from St. Clair, PA., and later
from Allentown, PA. He was a proud member of the Wolfpack (71st. squadron), but
never told me much about his experience. I knew that he went from Jackson, Miss.
to Ballarat, Australia to New Guinea. In a little over a month, my son (stepson)
will report to the Air Force Academy to start Basic Cadet training. My son and
my dad never knew each other. I would like to be able to add some history of the
heritage of my dad to my letters to Mike. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks,
Dave Reese. Allentown, PA. dreese71nss@sprintmail.com
or dreese@lifetouch.com or webmaster@summerharmony.com
I am after information on a Major Watkins who I
believe served with the 405th Squadron. Some who served with him were Howard
Paquin from Milwaukee, Dave Bryant from N.Y. state, and Will Pavlich from N.Y.
state. These men did a radio interview with a radio correspondent, Fred Simpson,
who accompanied Watkins on a bomb run in the Finnisterres around January 1944. I
have a copy of the interview and would like to share it with any of these men if
they are still around. Also interested in the name of Watkins plane. Also, is it
known where the squadron was operating at the time of the interview. It may have
been Gusap. Regards, Phillip Bradley. phillbrad@yahoo.com
I'm trying to locate any information or anyone who knew S/Sgt Charles (Chuck)
Donald Plageman. He was a radio op/ gunner with the 823rd Squadron. His plane
went down in the Coral Sea approx. 100 miles south of Port Moresby on January
28, 1944. Thanks! sunsetter@attbi.com
Donald is the one on the far right. This picture was taken in Chicago during
radio op school. I HIGHLY desire a crew picture with him in it and have tried to
find one for seven years now without luck. If you have one, PLEASE share a copy
of it with me. I understand that he stayed with the Renshaw crew (823rd) until
they all were killed. Following this is a transcript of his MACR (missing aircrew
report)