Operation: Tobera Airfield, Rabaul, New Britain

Date: 5th March 1944 (Sunday)

Unit No: 31st Bombardment Squadron (H), 5th Bombardment Group (H), 13th Air force

Type: B-24J

Serial: 42-73469

Code: None

Base: Munda Airfield, New Georgia, Soloman Islands

Location: five (5) miles from the eastern coast of New Britain

Pilot: Capt. Lewis W. Haire O-793323 AAF Age 22. MiA

Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. John Henry Bauwens SSM, O-684238 AAF Age 26. Safe

Navigator: 1st Lt. William Frank Halle O-673554 AAF Age 22. MiA

Bombardier: 1st Lt. Walter R. Henthorn O-733567 AAF Age 22. MiA

Engineer: S/Sgt. Escoe Elroy Palmer 34269270 AAF Age 28. PoW * (1)

Asst Engineer: Sgt. Martin Matthew Lund 12131953 AAF Age 27. Safe

Radio Operator: T/Sgt. Clarence Foster Marcy 37212223 AAF Age 35. Safe

Ball Turret Gnr: Cpl. Ruben Silver 16070308 AAF Age 22. MiA

Nose Gunner: S/Sgt. Ellis Jacob Hammaker DFC, 33230949 AAF Age 27. MiA

Tail Gunner: S/Sgt. Malven Jay Houtz 13145621 AAF Age 19. MiA

Photographer: S/Sgt. Harold Thomas Flanagan 39157425 AAF Age 26. MiA

* Tunnel Hill PoW Camp, Rabaul, New Britain

Above left to right: 1st Lt. William F. Halle (Courtesy of Detroit Free Press, dated 24th February 1943); 1st Lt. Walter R. Henthorn (Courtesy of The Buffalo News, 12th April 1944); S/Sgt. Escoe E. Palmer (Courtesy of The Atlanta Journal, dated 9th September 1943.)

Above left to right: Sgt. Martin M. Lund (Courtesy of The Central New Jersey Home News, dated 9th March 1944); S/Sgt. Ellis J. Hammaker DFC (Courtesy of Harrisburg Telegraph, dated 12th December 1943)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 5th March 1944 B-24J 42-73469 took-off from Munda Airfield on New Georgia in the Soloman Islands and joined a force to bomb Tobera Airfield near Rabaul on New Britain.

Immediately after the aircraft had released its bombs it was directly hit twice by Anti-Aircraft fire, the first struck the nose and the second in the main gas tank. The aircraft immediately caught fire and the communications system was disabled. Several seconds later whilst flying on a south easterly course approximately five (5) miles from the eastern coast of New Britain the aircraft exploded.

Aboard the aircraft Sgt. Lund was blown out by the explosion and whilst parachuting down he observed three (3) other parachutes in the air, who had also been ejected by the explosion. He and two others landed in the waters off New Britain whilst the fourth (4th) was seen to come down on New Britain. S/Sgt. Palmer was the fourth (4th) parachutist who had baled out before the aircraft exploded.

Caption on reverse: A Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber of the U.S. Army 13th Air Force hit by Jap anti-aircraft fire, explodes over St. George's Channel, off New Britain Island, and falls flaming into the sea (left center) while another plane of the same formation continues its return trip after having completed the bombing of parked Jap planes at Tovera [sic] Airdrome, near Rabaul. Sgt. Clarence F. Marcy, (inset) 5711 Park St., Kansas City, Mo., was blown out of the Liberator when it exploded. When he recovered from the immediate shock, he found himself dangling in mid-air from his parachute. After landing in the water, 200 yds. from Jap-infested New Britain, he was picked up by a naval rescue plane, given first aid and rushed to an advanced base for further medical attention. The bandages on his hands and head are for burns received when he tried to open the bomb-bay doors just before the plane exploded. (Official USAAF photograph)

Sgt. Lund reported that to the best of his knowledge 1st Lt. Henthron and Sgt. Hammaker were in the nose of the ship when that position received a direct hit. Additionally, they were not wearing their parachutes as the were stored on the flight deck. Cpl. Silver occupied the ball turret which was never raised due to the hydraulic mechanism being knocked out and he was not wearing his parachute. He surmised that Capt. Haire, 1st Lt. Halle, S/Sgt. Houtz and S/Sgt. Flanagan either died in the explosion or were unable to bale out even if they were wearing parachutes.

2nd Lt. Bauwens, Sgt. Marcy were the other two (2) who landed in Kabanga Bay, 15 miles south of Cape Gazelle.

The War Diary for the USS Coos Bay (AVP-25) entry for the 5th March 1944, recorded the following:

‘PBY 5, Patrol Plane Commander Flt Sgt. J.B. MONK, RNZAF, effected rescue of Second Lieutenant John H. BAUWENS, Co-pilot; Tech/Sgt Clarence F. MARCY, radio operator and Sgt. Martin LUND, Assist. Engr., all USAAF, and members of the crew of B-24J, No. 42-37469 attached to 31st Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomber Group based at MUNDA. The rescue was made in vicinity of 4° 25' South Latitude, 152° 25' East Longitude where the B-24 exploded and crashed in the water after being hit by A/A fire over TOBERA’.

Some of the crew of Catalina IV NZ4014 have been identified as:

Capt: Flt Sgt. James Benjamin ‘Jim’ Monk RNZAF - Later appointed to a commission and promoted to Plt Off. Whilst a Fg Off. he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM) for his service in the South Pacific Area;
2nd Pilot: Plt Off. Samuel Russell Carleton MiD, 426910 RNZAF;
WOp/Air Gnr: WO. John Douglas Hamilton 415528 RNZAF.

Above: Fg Off. James Benjamin ‘Jim’ Monk DFM (Courtesy of Jenny Scott)

All three (3) were rescued several hours later by RNZAF Catalina IV NZ4014 (Ex USN PBY-5 #08464) XX:P from 6 Squadron. The Squadron was based at that time at Halavo Bay on the south coast of Florida Island, Guadalcanal and was operating from the USS Coos Bay, a seaplane tender, on ’Dumbo’ (Air/Sea Rescue) missions.

Above: 2nd Lt. John H. Bauwens SSM returns home (Courtesy of The Daily Times, dated 30th October 1944)

Above: Sgt. Martin M. Lund saved (Courtesy of The Central New Jersey Home News, dated 9th March 1944)

Above: T/Sgt. Clarence F. Marcy Blown Free of death (Courtesy of The Kansas City Star, dated 6th October 1944)

(1) After S/Sgt. Palmer had landed on New Britain he decided to make his way toward Cape Gloucester to the south of the island which was at that time occupied by Allied forces. However, after covering about ten (10) miles over the next eight (8) days, he was captured on the 13th March 1944 by a patrol of Japanese soldiers.

He was then taken to the Tunnel Hill PoW Camp where he remained until his release. S/Sgt. Palmer was one of only eight (8) PoWs who survived and released from the Tunnel Hill PoW camp on the 7th September 1945 to Australian forces after the Japanese surrender:

1st Lt. James A. McMurria O-372644 USAAF;
1st Lt. Jose L. Holguin O-728388 USAAF;
2nd Lt. Alphones D. Quinones O-748876 USAAF;
Lt(Jg). Joseph G. Nason 117057 USNR;
AR2c. John B. Kepchia 65228343 USNR;
WO. Ronald C. Warren 425959 RNZAF;
Capt. John J. Murphy NGX310 AIF.

He was one (1) of a party of twenty-eight (28) Service personnel that boarded HMAS Vendetta at Rabaul and brought to Jacquinot Bay on the south coast of New Britain. They were then taken by RNZAF Air-Sea Rescue boat to the Australian Army 2/8th General Hospital at Jacquinot Bay for assessment and treatment.

After approximately three (3) weeks at Jacquinot Bay and Finschafen Hospital, he was handed over to the American authorities at Leyte and left for the United States by sea on the 26th September 1945.

Above: Enhanced image from The Arizona Republic, dated 11th August 2002

Left to right: 1st Lt. James A. McMurria, 2nd Lt. Alphonse D, ‘Al’ Quinones, 1st Lt. Jose L. Holguin, S/Sgt. Escoe E. Palmer, AR2c. John B. Kepchia

Burial details:

Above: Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing for Capt. Lewis W. Haire (Courtesy of the ABMC)

Capt. Lewis W. Haire. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters (AM(5OLC)). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 23rd May 1921 in Tennessee. Son of Lexie Wesson and Margaret (née Parrish) Haire of Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Above: Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing for 1st Lt. William F. Halle (Courtesy of the ABMC)

1st Lt. William Frank Halle. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters (AM(6OLC)). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 18th July 1921 in Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan. Son of Walter August and Leone Halle of Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA.

Above: Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing for 1st Lt. Walter R. Henthorn (Courtesy of the ABMC)

1st Lt. Walter R. Henthorn. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters (AM(6OLC)). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 12th February 1922 in Kenton County, Kentucky. Son of Mr & Mrs. Walter S. Henthorn of San Bernardino, California. Husband to Lucille C. (née DiPirro) Henthorn of Buffalo, New York, USA

Above: Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing for Cpl. Ruben Silver (Courtesy of the ABMC)

Cpl. Ruben Silver. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal (AM). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 23rd May 1921 in Chicago, Illinois. Son of Harry and Sadie Silver of Brookfield, Illinois, USA.

Above: Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing for S/Sgt. Ellis J. Hammaker (Courtesy of the ABMC)

S/Sgt. Ellis Jacob Hammaker. Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters (AM(4OLC)). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 3rd April 1916 in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania Son of Jacob Cyrus and Lila Viola (née Ellis - Deceased in December 1918) Hammaker of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. Husband to Frances Mary (née Redfern) Hammaker of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Above: Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing for S/Sgt. Malven J. Houtz (Courtesy of the ABMC)

S/Sgt. Malven Jay Houtz. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters (AM(2OLC)). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 16th September 1924 in Pleasant Gap, Centre County, Pennsylvania. Son of Walter Jacob (Deceased in March 1935) and Emma L. (née Eckenroth) Houtz of Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Above: Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing for S/Sgt. Harold T. Flanagan (Courtesy of the ABMC)

S/Sgt. Harold Thomas Flanagan. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters (AM(2OLC)). Manila American Cemetery, Wall of the Missing. Born on the 10th January 1918 in Lehigh, Oklahoma. Son of Thomas M (Deceased in April 1941) and Mabel Margaret (née Hobbs) Flanagan of Los Angeles, California, USA.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their relatives. Thanks also to Jenny Scott for sharing information about the rescue of the crew and photograph of Fg Off. Monk DFM (Apr 2026).

Other sources listed below:

References(s):

1. Investigation File: NAA: 336/1/1345 Part 6

2. “DUMBO DIARY: Royal New Zealand Air Force No. 6 (Flying Boat) Squadron, 1943-1945” – Author Jenny Scott.

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt