County of memorial: St. Louis County
Location of memorial: Middle Dr. & Monument Dr., Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay
TOMBSTONE TEXT:
417th BOMB GROUP AAF
DIED IN AIRPLANE CRASH MAY 22, 1944
World War II
" B-25D-1 "Torrid Tessie The Terror" Serial Number 41-29692
USAAF
5th AF
417th BG
673th BS
Pilot 1st Lt Edward V. Atwell, Jr., O-803745 (MIA / KIA) Wilmington, DE
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Chester N. Burns, O-671634 (MIA / KIA) Oklahoma City, OK
Crew Chief S/Sgt Wilford F. Schappell, 13045713 (MIA / KIA) South Temple, PA
Passenger Captain Randall M. Dorton Jr., O-724154 (MIA / KIA) San Francisco, CA
Passenger Sgt Haynes C. Jump, 15019610 (MIA / KIA) Elizebethtown, KY
Passenger Cpl Dillard Harmon, 34280054 (MIA / KIA) Columbia, TN
Passenger Cpl Paul T. Donahue, 31152185 (MIA / KIA) South Portland, ME
Passenger 1st Lt Robert J. Arndt, O-669840 (MIA / KIA) Hastings, NB
Passenger S/Sgt Samuel F. Carter, 34300380 (MIA / KIA) Fayetteville, NC
Passenger Cpl Norman R. Suhr, 12009668 (MIA / KIA) Rochester, NY
Crashed May 22, 1944
MACR 6136
Aircraft History
Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Inglewood. Constructors Number 87-7857. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25-D Mitchell serial number 41-29692. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia.
Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG). Nicknamed "Torrid Tessie The Terror". Modified into a B-25D-1 strafer variant at the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville.
Later, assigned to the 417th Bombardment Group "Sky Lancers" (417th BG), 673rd Bombardment Squadron. This plane retained the prior nickname and was used as a transport with the armament removed. When lost engines: R-2600-13 serial numbers 43-24328 and 43-37389.
Mission History
On May 22, 1944 at 2:25pm took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 1st Lt Edward V. Atwell, Jr. on an administrative flight bound for Saidor Airfield. When this aircraft failed to arrive it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, it crashed in the Saruwaged Range between Erap River and Sorop River, north-northwest of Mount Sayapomia at roughly 9,500' elevation.
Wreckage
During May 1959, this crash site was first discovered by natives during May 1959, who reported the site to Lutheran missionaries at Lae, who reported the aircraft to the American authorities.
Recovery of Remains
During June to July 1959 a team from American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) visited the crash site and recovered the remains of the crew.
During 2004, the crash site was revisited by a team JPAC led by Captain Brett Funk with Brian Bennett.
Memorials
The crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Everyone aboard earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.
On March 7, 1960 the crew was buried in a group burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 81, site 306-307.
Carter also has a memorial marker, location unknown. Likely, in a private cemetery in his hometown.
References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D Mitchell 41-29692
"29692 (417th BG) lost May 22,1944. MACR 6136"
Missing Air Crew Report 6136 (MACR 6136)
U.S. Army AGRS Search & Recovery #1-1959 (Australian New Guinea - WWII Dead) Sept 22, 1959
RAAF Survey of Aircraft Wreckage, Papua New Guinea, page 8
"#287 | 06.23-146.39 | Erap River | USAC Mitchell B-25 41-26962 [sic B-25D 41-29692] | Wreckage recovered Erap and Sorop Rivers"
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-25C Mitchell 41-29692" ~ Pacific Wreaks (link below)
1st LT Edward V. Artwell, Jr.
Texas
January19. 1920
2nd LT Chester N. Burns
Oklahoma
June 27, 1919
S Sgt Wilford F. Schappell
Pennsylvania
December 1, 1916
Capt. Randall M. Dorton, Jr.
California
March 10, 1920
DFC, AM, & 3 OLC
S Sgt Haynes C. Jump
Kentucky
August 29, 1913
Cpl Dillard Harmon
Tennessee
March 23, 1908
Cpl Paul T. Donahue
Maine
May 15, 1921
1st Lt Robert J. Arndt
Minnesota
September 30, 1921
S Sgt Samuel F. Carter
North Carolina
February 5, 1913
Cpl Norman R. Suhr
New York
January 22, 1921