Operation: Administrative flight

Date: 3rd November 1943 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 83rd Bombardment (M) Squadron, 12th Bombardment Group (M), 12th Air Force

Type: B-25C Mitchell

Serial No: 41-13126

Code:?

Location: Unknown

Base: Gerbini, Sicily

Pilot: Capt. Thomas Miller High O-662930 AAF Age 25. MiA

Co Pilot: 2nd Lt. Abdon Thomas Ontiveros Jr. O-725781 AAF Age 23. MiA

Navigator: Maj. Albert Peter Muska O-659071 DFC AAF Age 26. MiA

Radio Op/Gunner: T/Sgt. Morris Dalva 32260401 AAF Age 25. MiA

Gunner: S/Sgt. Andrew K. Hill 6653601 AAF Age? MiA

Above: B-25C Mitchell, 41-12863, 82d Bombardment Squadron in a mixed formation over Tunisia, 9 January 1943 with other 12th Bomb Group B-25s and RAF Baltimore IIIs to attack the Axis held Mareth Line. (Public Domain)

REASON FOR LOSS:

At 09:30 hrs on the 3rd November 1943 B-25C 41-13126 took off from Gerbini Airfield in Sicily to fly to La Marsa in Tunisia. When the aircraft departed the weather was deteriorating, with visibility of between 7-12 miles. The aircraft failed to arrive at La Marsa and it was reported that no communication of any nature had been received from the aircraft.

On the 20th November 1943 a ship was despatched on a search mission in an attempt to secure information concerning the aircraft and crew. Coastal aerodromes in both Tunisia and Algeria along with aerodromes on the Islands of Pantelleria and Sicily were visited but no trace of aircraft was found and no one spoken with had seen the aircraft.

Above: General area outlined where Capt. Thomas M. High and the men aboard B-25C 41-13126 were reported missing

The Defence PoW/MiA Accounting Agency (DPAA) with their resources and knowledge have decided that the loss of this crew and aircraft are unrecoverable. Unless some local source finds a clue, then everything possible that could be done has been expedited to find the missing crew and aircraft.

Burial Details

Above: Sicily-Rome American Cemetery (Courtesy of the American Battle Monuments Commission)

Capt. Thomas Miller High. Air Medal (7 Oak Leaf Clusters). Tablets of the Missing Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. Born on the 28th May 1918 in Shillington, Berkshire, Pennsylvania. Son of Isaac Beider and Mary Josephine (née Miller) High of Reading, Adams, Pennsylvania, USA. His mother predeceased him in June 1939.

2nd Lt. Abdon Thomas Ontiveros. Tablets of the Missing Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. Born on the 27th February 1920 in Santa Barbara, California. Son of Abdon Tomas and Grace Ontiveros of Santa Barbara, California, USA.

Above: Maj. Albert Peter Muska (Courtesy of Ken Muska)

Maj. Albert Peter Muska. DFC, Air Medal (8 Oak Leaf Clusters). Tablets of the Missing Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. Born on the 1st June 1917 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Son of Michael and Sophia (née Dulka) Muska of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, USA.

T/Sgt. Morris Dalva. Air Medal (7 Oak Leaf Clusters). Tablets of the Missing Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. Born on the 14th June 1918 in New York City. Son of Joseph and Fannie (née Benveniste) Dalva of New York City, New York, USA.

Sgt. Andrew K. Hill. Air Medal. Tablets of the Missing Sicily-Rome American Cemetery. It is know he hailed from Ohio, USA. No further information.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew. Thanks to Kenneth Muska, cousin once removed of Maj. Albert Peter Muska, for his photograph. (Jun 2022).

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