Port Moresby-Jackson (7 Mile Drome)

The airplane departed Port Moresby-7 Mile Drome at 1010LT on a reconnaissance mission. Four hours later, it was attacked by several Japanese Mitsubishi Zero fighters. A fuel tank near the engine n°2 was hit and four crew members bailed out before the aircraft went into a spin and crashed on Mt Hong Kong overlooking the Waterfall Bay, in the region of Matong village. All six crew who remained aboard were killed while all four others were later captured by Japanese soldiers. Three of them were executed and only one (S/Sgt Cascio) survived the war.
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt Ernest A. Naumann, pilot,
1st Lt Winslow G. Gardner, copilot, †
Sgt Albert Smith, radio operator, †
S/Sgt Paul J. Cascio Jr., radio operator,
2nd Lt Charles H. Lewis, navigator, †
T/Sgt Thomas H. Fox, flight engineer,
2nd Lt Oliver R. Alvin, bombardier, †
S/Sgt Virgil E. DeVoss, air gunner, †
Sgt Bruno R. Bukalski, air gunner, †
Pfc Charles H. Green Jr., air gunner.

The airplane departed Port Moresby-Jackson (7 Mile Drome) on a training flight with other similar airplanes. While flying in close formation over the sea, the airplane was caught by a sudden downdraft and the propellers collided with B-17F registered 41-24355, causing some damage to its tail. Following the collision, the engines caught fire then the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed into the sea off Hood Point, 48 km southeast of Port Moresby. All seven crew members were killed. The other B-17 returned to Port Moresby safely.
Crew:
Cpt Charles N. McArthur,
2nd Lt La Rue Haralson,
T/Sgt Joseph C. Whitelaw,
Sgt Robert R. Greenwood,
Sgt George N. Neuman,
Pvt William N. Phillips,
Pvt Brony C. Wysocki.

During the takeoff run from Port Moresby-7 Mile Drome, a tyre and a rim came off from a main gear. The aircraft went out of control, veered off runway, rolled for 200 yards before coming to rest, bursting into flames and exploding. All 11 crew members were killed. Explosions were caused by three 500 lbs bombs stored in the cargo bay. A dead wallaby was later found on the runway but it was not proven if this was the cause of the accident or not. The aircraft was named 'Blues in the Nite'.
Crew (43th BG):
Maj Kenneth D. McCullar, pilot,
2nd Lt Byron G. Andrews,
2nd Lt Blaine McCord Jr.,
2nd Lt John W. Schultz Jr.,
T/Sgt Elmer R. Hansen,
S/Sgt Philip A. Zumwalt,
Sgt Bert F. Bredemeier,
Cpl George A. Mowad,
Pvt David W. Stuckey,
S/Sgt Pierre R. O'Grady,
S/Sgt Michael J. Paz Jr.

The airplane departed Port Moresby-7 Mile Drome at 0915LT on a reconnaissance and administrative flight to Merauke and Horn Island, then was scheduled to return to 7 Mile Drome. About 20 minutes into the flight, the radio operator "checked in" with the ground station. This was the last contact with the airplane and its crew who were from Headquarters Squadron, 5th Bomber Command. The airplane failed to return to base and is believed to have crashed somewhere into the Coral Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Br Gen Howard K. Ramey, pilot,
Lt Col Harold N. Chaffin, copilot.
Passengers:
Cpt Stanley A. Loewenberg,
Cpt James R. Griffin,
1st Lt Ferdinand D. Mannoccir II,
2nd Lt William Lief,
M/Sgt James D. Collier Jr.,
T/Sgt Ortis L. Quaal,
S/Sgt Robert R. Stith,
S/Sgt Harry A. Johnson,
Sgt Marvin Berkowitz,
Pfc George T. Hopfield.

The airplane departed Port Moreby-7 Mile Drome at 0920LT on a supply mission to Wau, carrying five crew members and a load of ammunition and equipment. On approach to Wau, it was attacked by Japanese fighter and after passing over the Bulolo River, it crashed in hilly terrain located south of Wau Airfield. All five crew members were killed. The wreckage was found in September 1988.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert H. Schwensen, pilot,
1st Lt Henry W. Sherman, copilot,
Cpl Emil W. Erickson, flight engineer,
Pvt Clifford J. Fawn, radio operator,
Pfc Edward G. Piekutowski, air gunner.

The airplane departed Port Moresby-7 Mile Drome on an operation against Japanese ships off Lae. Over the target area, it was shot down by six Japanese Zero and crashed into the sea. Eight crew members were killed and the copilot was rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
2nd Lt Dayton S. Altman Jr., pilot, †
Lt Norman D. Smith, copilot,
2nd Lt William H. Hoyt Jr., navigator, †
T/Sgt Francis M. Brigham, radio operator, †
2nd Lt Herbert H. Gardner Jr., bombardier, †
T/Sgt Freddie K. Affeld, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Vincent M. Calise, air gunner, †
S/Sgt John F. Ratliff, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Francis E. Bogucki, air gunner. †

The airplane departed Port Moresby-7 Mile Drome on a bombing mission against a Japanese convoy in the Huon Gulf off Lae. Over the target are, it was hit by enemy fire (anti aircraft and Japanese fighters). The pilot was able to leave the combat area but was eventually forced to make an emergency landing in hilly terrain near Kaisenik near the Black Cat Pass, east of Wau. During the crash landing, the fuselage broke rear of the radio compartment and the tail gunner Sgt Henry B. Bowen was killed and the radio operator Robert H. Albright was seriously injured. All seven other crew members suffered various injuries. On January 14, the radio operator died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
1st Lt Raymond S. Dau, pilot,
2nd Lt Donald W. Hoggan, copilot,
2nd Lt Albert V. Cole, bombardier,
2nd Lt Peter J. Hudec, navigator,
Sgt Robert H. Albright, radio operator, †
S/Sgt Lloyd T. Dumond, flight engineer,
Sgt Francis E. Caldwell, air gunner,
Sgt Henry J. Blasco, air gunner,
Sgt Henry B. Bowen, air gunner. †

The airplane named 'Yeah' departed Port Moresby-Seven Mile Drome to bomb Japanese ships off Lae. Over the target, it was attacked by Japanese Mitsubishi Zero. With the left engine on fire, the pilot was able to leave the combat area but was eventually forced to ditch the airplane 60 km south of Salamaua. Three crew members were rescued while four others were killed.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Leonard T. Nicholson, pilot,
1st Lt Jack L. Childers, copilot,
1st Lt Norman E. Oefreese, navigator, †
Sgt Jack C. Moseley, bombardier, †
S/Sgt William M. Brown, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Joseph P. Papp, radio operator, †
Cpl Thomas A. Moffitt, air gunner.

The airplane departed Port Moresby-7 Mile Drome at 0848LT on an operation to Rabaul. Around noon, it arrived over the target area at an altitude of 8,500 feet and bombed enemy ships. While proceeding east of Rabaul-Vunakanau Airfield at an altitude of 5,000 feet, it was apparently shot down by Japanese fighters and crashed. The airplane and its crew were not recovered. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Maj Allen Lindberg, pilot,
Cpt Benton H. Daniel, copilot,
2nd Lt Robert L. Hand, bombardier,
1st Lt John W. Hanson, navigator,
T/Sgt Dennis T. Craig, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Quentin W. Blakely, radio operator,
Sgt Leslie A. Stewart, air gunner,
Pvt Leland W. Stone, air gunner,
Pfc William G. Fraser Jr., air gunner.
Passengers:
Br Gen Kenneth N. Walker,
Maj Jack W. Bleasdale.

The airplane named 'So Sorry' departed Port Moresby-Seven Mile Drome on an operation to Lae. Over the target area, it was hit by enemy fire that cut the elevator cables. The pilot was able to leave the area but was forced to attempt an emergency landing in Kukuobata, near Dobodura. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all eight occupants were rescued, among them three were injured.
Crew (22nd BG):
1st Lt Gerald J. Crosson, pilot,
McCaskey,
Johnson +5.