Port Moresby

While approaching Tsile Tsile-Maralina Airfield at low height, the aircraft was attacked by a Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar. The aircraft went out of control and crashed 8 miles south of the airfield, killing all nine occupants. No trace of the aircraft was found.
Crew (374th TCG):
1st Lt Charles O. Cathcart, pilot,
F/O Darwin R. Hamilton, copilot,
Sgt Theodore Slocki, flight engineer,
Sgt William H. Fetzer, radio operator.
Passengers:
Cpl Jeremiah J. Ryan,
Pfc Austin J. Lothschutz,
Pvt Sam Rothstein,
Cpl Thomas B. Renkes,
Earl L. Kahler.

While approaching Tsile Tsile-Maralina Airfield at low height, the aircraft was attacked by a Japanese Nakajima Ki-43 Oscar. During this first attack, a passenger was killed and the aircraft caught fire. The captain attempted to make an emergency landing when on a second attack, he was killed. The aircraft hit trees and crashed in a wooded area. Five crew members were killed while a passenger was seriously injured and transferred to the hospital in Port Moresby where he died few hours later.
Crew (374th TCG):
1st Lt Enoch P. Burley, pilot,
1st Lt James F. Miles, copilot,
T/Sgt Edward R. Bering, crew chief,
Pvt John Kvaka Jr., radio operator.
Passengers:
Cpt Robert C. Heller,
Cpl Virgil H. Dockery.

The four-engine aircraft left Port Moresby-5 Mile Airfield in the morning on a patrol flight over New Britain and then Solomon Sea. At 1316LT, the crew informed ground that they sighted seven enemy ships and that they will attack. This was the last radio contact. The aircraft christened 'Hells Angels' most probably crashed into the Solomon Sea and no trace of it nor the crew was found.
Crew (90th Squadron):
1st Lt Lewis G. Jones, pilot,
2nd Lt Samuel A. Robinson, copilot,
2nd Lt Julien H. Hicks, navigator,
1st Lt Billy D. Hunter, bombardier,
T/Sgt Irving S. Berman, flight engineer,
T/Sgt John J. Hennessey, radio operator,
S/Sgt Chester L. Bull, air gunner,
S/Sgt Samuel P. Culp, assistant radio,
S/Sgt Billie D. Feather, assistant engineer,
S/Sgt Emerson C. Fie, photographer,
S/Sgt Robert W. Whitehead, air gunner.
Source:
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/41-11903.html

After landing at Terapo Airstrip, the airplane developed a swing to starboard and corrective action applied using a combination of rudder, throttle and brakes. The swing was almost corrected when the starboard wheel hit a deep drain which pulled the other wheel into the drain, resulting in the undercarriage being torn off. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and the pilot escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt S. Reading, pilot.

The airplane departed Port Moresby-Jackson Airport (7 Mile Drome) at 0145LT on a night bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. About 20 minutes into the flight, the crew encountered technical problems and was forced to return to base. While cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the bomber entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located near 17 Mile Drome and was totally destroyed. All 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Walter C. Hammond, pilot,
2nd Lt Robert F. Johnston, copilot,
T/Sgt Hartsill C. Rasor, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Dominick T. Rossi, assistant flight engineer,
2nd Lt Arthur M. Zuckerman, navigator,
2nd Lt Harry C. Shannon, bombardier,
T/Sgt William E. Guinn, radio operator,
S/Sgt Glenn Edward Sletten, assistant radio operator,
S/Sgt Jeremiah S. Connolly, air gunner,
S/Sgt Daniel M. Costello, air gunner.

The airplane departed Dobodura Airfield at 0145LT to bomb the Rabaul-Vunakanau Airport. Following an uneventful mission, the crew was returning to base when the bomber was attacked by the pilot of a Japanese fighter (Nakajima). The airplane named 'Naughty But Nice' went out of control and only the navigator was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed into the Baining Mountains, south of Rabaul. Nine crew members were killed.
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt William J. Sarsfield Jr., pilot, †
2nd Lt Charles E. Trimingham, copilot, †
1st Lt Francis G. Peattie, bombardier, †
1st Lt Jose L. Holguin, navigator
2nd Lt Herman H. Knott, bomb aimer, †
T/Sgt Robert L. Christopherson, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Henry Garcia, second flight engineer, †
T/Sgt Leonard A. Gionet, radio operator, †
S/Sgt Robert E. Griebel, assistant to the radio operator, †
S/Sgt Pace P. Payne, air gunner. †

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. †

The airplane departed Port Moresby-7 Mile Drome in the morning bound to Dobodura where a stock of bombs was loaded. It departed Dobodura to attack the Rabaul-Vunakanau Airport. While approaching the target area, the aircraft what shot down by a Japanese fighter. All four engines were hit by bullets and the captain ordered his crew to bail out but only three crewmen were able to do so. Out of control, the aircraft went into a spin and crashed into the St George Channel off Rabaul. Eight crew members were killed and three others became PoW.
Crew (43rd BG):
Maj Paul I. Williams, pilot, †
2nd Lt John S. Rippy, copilot,
S/Sgt Robert B. Gills Jr., flight engineer, †
2nd Lt Richard U. Aguirre, navigator, †
Sgt Edward Driscoll, radio operator, †
M/Sgt Gordon R. Manuel, bombardier,
Sgt Lawrence L. Rexroat, air gunner, †
Sgt Robert A. Curry, air gunner,
Pfc William R. Smith, air gunner, †
Sgt Joseph F. Murray, air gunner, †
Passenger:
1st Lt Robert F. Heller. †

The airplane departed Dobodura Airfield on a flight to Port Moresby, carrying five crew members and a load of fuel drums. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling. While cruising over the Owen Stanley range, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located south of Kokoda. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operation were initiated and the wreckage was found on 15 may 1943 at an altitude of 2,042 metres. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (374th TCG):
1st Lt Walter B. Thompson, pilot,
F/O Robert P. Ranges, copilot,
T/Sgt Darrell D. Loy, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Willis Cheek, radio operator,
Sgt Elwood H. Wolfsberger, assistant radio operator.

The airplane departed Dobodura Airfield on a flight to Port Moresby, carrying six passengers, four crew members and a load of fuel drums. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling. While cruising over the Owen Stanley range, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Myola Lake, in the region of Kokoda. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operation were initiated and the wreckage was found on 30 may 1943. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew (374th TCG):
2nd Lt Lorenzo R. Gower, pilot,
1st Lt Robert W. Wood, copilot,
Cpl Dominic P. Verdi, flight engineer,
Cpl James G. Hickman, radio operator.
Passenger:
Col John H. Brewer,
1st Lt Richard A. Keefer,
Mr. Roger W. Parkhurst,
Mr. Stewart Markell Brown,
Cpt Francis E. Williams accompanied by his personal cooker, a Papua citizen.