Date & Time:
May 21, 1943 at 0420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9011
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Dobodura - Port Moresby
MSN:
2483
YOM:
1941
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
5
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
2
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Port Moresby-7 Mile Drome bound to Dobodura where a stock of bombs was loaded. It departed Dobodura to attack the Rabaul-Vunakanau Airport. Following an uneventful mission, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter over the Lihir Island and crashed in Put Put. Seven crew members were killed and four others became PoW.
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt Leslie W. Neuman, pilot,
2nd Lt Emil Gentry, copilot, †
T/Sgt William R. Moore, flight engineer, †
2nd Lt William A. Bujold, navigator, †
S/Sgt Ernest W. Burnside, radio operator,
2nd Lt Saul Albert, bombardier, †
Cpl John J. Mulligan,air gunner,
Pvt John L. Honold, air gunner, †
Pvt Robert E. George, air gunner.
Passengers:
Cpt Joseph W. Geddes, †
2nd Lt Leon S. King. †
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt Leslie W. Neuman, pilot,
2nd Lt Emil Gentry, copilot, †
T/Sgt William R. Moore, flight engineer, †
2nd Lt William A. Bujold, navigator, †
S/Sgt Ernest W. Burnside, radio operator,
2nd Lt Saul Albert, bombardier, †
Cpl John J. Mulligan,air gunner,
Pvt John L. Honold, air gunner, †
Pvt Robert E. George, air gunner.
Passengers:
Cpt Joseph W. Geddes, †
2nd Lt Leon S. King. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.
