Operation: Burma to Siam railway in Burma (Myanmar).

Date: 5th April 1944 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 9th Bombardment Squadron (H), 7th Bombardment Group (H), 10th Air Force

Type: B-24J

Serial No: 42-73435

Code: Unknown

Location: About 28 miles NE of Ye in Burma (Myanmar)

Base: Karachi, India

Pilot: 1st Lt. Warren Richard Kauffman DFC, O-742726 AAF Age 22. KiA

Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. Charles Kenneth Pittman DSC, DFC, O-666814 AAF Age 24. KiA

Nav: 1st Lt. Alexander Long ‘Sandy’ James III. DFC, O-735314 AAF Age 21. KiA

Bombardier: FO. Gene Gambale DFC, T-121946 AAF Age 23. PoW */DED **/MiA

Engineer: T/Sgt. James Morris Faulkner DFC, 34266447 AAF Age 25. KiA

Radio Operator: T/Sgt. Donald Edward Ball DFC, 31167451 AAF Age 26. KiA

Assist Engineer: S/Sgt. James Micheal McKernan DFC, 32281809 AAF Age 22. PoW *

Assist Engineer: Sgt. Edward J. Harris 6708432 AAF Age 33. KiA

Gunner: S/Sgt. Tyman Hines Wells Jr., DFC 34478136 AAF Age 22. PoW *

Gunner: S/Sgt. Melville Edward Schultz, DFC 35669388 AAF Age 22. KiA

Observer: Capt. James Woolsey Dorst O-396039 AAF Age 24. KiA

* Burma #5 (Moulmein & Rangoon Jail)

** DED = Declared dead

REASON FOR LOSS:

2nd Lt. Edward J. Thielen O-684912 described the mission and when 1st Lt. Kauffman’s aircraft was last seen:

‘While participating in a combat mission on the 5th April 1944 I was flying #2 position in a three plane formation. The bombing was done individually. After I have completed my bombing run I made a turn to the left. After my turn I could see Lt Warren R. Kauffman’s aircraft on its bombing run and saw his first two bombs drop. After which I lost sight of him. That was the last time I saw him’.

Capt. Dorst was the squadron Intelligence Officer and was acting as an Aerial Observer on the mission.

The aircraft was last seen making a bombing run between mile 44 and mile 61 on the Burma to Siam railway at about 17:00 hrs at Latitude/Longitude 98 07 E, 15 32N. This position is about 1¾ miles NE of Win Kha Na and some 28 miles NE of Ye in Burma (Myanmar) and close to when the crew baled out.

S/Sgt. McKernan in his Individual Casualty Questionnaire (ICQ) described that FO. Gambale was slightly injured and baled out just after he did and although he did not seen S/Sgt. Wells Jr. bale out he evidently did as he was a PoW with him.

1st Lt. Kauffman was injured by ground fire and died whilst 1st Lt. James was attempting to help him. 1st Lt. Pittman was last seen on the flight deck flying the aircraft. T/Sgt Faulkner was last seen on the flight deck assisting 1st Lt. Pittman.

T/Sgt. Ball was last seen aboard the aircraft trying to radio their position. S/Sgt. Schultz and Sgt. Harris did not bale out for unknown reasons. Capt. Dorst was last seen baling out of the aircraft but evidently lost his life in unknown circumstances.

The aircraft exploded when it hit the ground and as the remains of seven of the crew recovered from the wreckage could not be individually identified were interred in a group burial.

(1) The circumstances leading to the death on the 10th August 1944 of Flight Officer (FO) Gambale were determined by two British Military Courts convened in Rangoon, Burma.

First Trial

The first was held between the 18th and 24th April 1946 where two (2) members of the Imperial Japanese Army were charged with committing a war crime in that they, at the New Law Courts Jail Annex, Rangoon, Burma, between the 1st March 1944 and 27th July 1944, being in violation of the laws and usages of war, were together concerned in brutality towards and ill-treatment of American and British PoWs, resulting in the physical suffering of thirteen PoWs and the deaths of five of the thirteen.

The accused were:

Capt. (Rikugun-tai-i) UYENO Masakaru who was the former Commanding Officer (CO) of Futo Buntai, Rangoon, Burma and also the CO of the Futo Buntai prison;

Capt. (Rikugun-tai-i) YAMAZAKI Kaname was the Medical Officer (MO) of the prison.

Note: the Japanese word Rikugun preceding a rank indicates that it relates to the army.

Both were also members of or attached to the Kempeitai who were the military police of the Imperial Japanese Army and functioned much like the Gestapo in Nazi Germany.

Capt. UYENO was in post at the Futo Buntai prison, also known as the New Law Courts Jail Annex, from 1st March 1944 until 31st December 1944. Capt. YAMAZAKI was in post during the same period, and was responsible for the sanitary conditions of the Annex and the health and physical well being of its inmates.

During the period they were in charge a number of American and British airmen were incarcerated in the Annex where they were kept in confinement under harsh and oppressive regulations without proper or adequate food, covering, sanitation facilities and medical attention.

On or about the 5th or 6th July 1944, the following thirteen airmen were brutally beaten with clubs, iron pipes, belts and were kicked to such an extent that at least two of them were seriously injured:

Capt. John H. McCloskey; Capt. Wayne R. Westberg; Capt. William R. Gilhousen; 1st Lt. Louis W. Bishop; FO. Gene Gambale; 2nd Lt. John T. Whitescarver; 1st Lt. Amel Boldman Jr.; T/Sgt. Edward F. Niland; S/Sgt. James M. McKernan; S/Sgt. Norman L. Snyder; S/Sgt. Leland W. Waltrip; T/Sgt. Tyman H. Wells Jr. and Sgt. John G. Parker, Royal Air Force.

The treatment meted out to the PoWs directly contributed to the deaths of Capt. Westberg, Capt. Gilhousen, FO. Gambale, 1st Lt. Boldman Jr. and Sgt. Parker.

The court found YAMAZAKI not guilty of the charges.

However, UYENO was found guilty of causing the deaths of Capt. Gilbousen 1st Lt. Boldman Jr. and Sgt. Parker. He was found not guilty of causing the deaths of Capt. Westberg and FO. Gambale but guilty of the brutality inflicted upon them.

UYENO was sentenced to death by hanging which was carried out on the 19th June 1946 at the Rangoon Central Jail.

Second Trial

The second trial was held between the 6th and 19th June 1946 where four (4) members of the Imperial Japanese Army were charged with committing a war crime in that they, at the New Law Courts Jail Annex, Rangoon, Burma, between the 1st March 1944 and 1st May 1945 when members of the Staff of the Jail and were responsible for the well-being of the prisoners in custody there, in violation of the laws and usages of war, were together concerned as parties to the ill-treatment resulting in the deaths of seventeen (17) and other American PoW, and physical suffering to other American PoW in custody at the jail.

The four (4) accused were:

Captain (Rikugun-tai-i) TAZUMI Motozo;

1st Lieutenant (Rikugun-Chūi) ONISHI Akio;

Sergeant Major (Rikugun-Sōchō) UENO Kiyoshi;

Superior Private (Rikugun-Jōtō-Hei) UENO Koigetsu.

Note: the Japanese word Rikugun preceding a rank indicates that it relates to the army.

Capt. TAZUMI was the Commanding Officer (CO) of the Futo Buntai prison, also known as the New Law Courts Jail Annex, from 15th March 1944 until May 1944. Lt. ONISHI was the Medical Officer (MO) at the Jail from the 4th May 1944 to the 15th April 1945.

Sgt Maj. UENO was the Quartermaster in change of purchasing food and drawing rations for the entire personnel for the Jail from March 1944 until the evacuation on or about the 25th April 1945.

Sup Pvt. UENO was a member of the guard at the Jail from the 25th April 1943 to 10th October 1944.

During the period April 1943 to May 1945 approximately one-hundred (100) American PoWs were incarcerated in the Annex where they were kept in confinement under harsh and oppressive regulations without proper or adequate food, covering, sanitation facilities and medical attention. During this time the PoWs were subjected to brutal beatings and maltreatment by members of the staff of the jail and in particular by Sup Pvt. UENO.

The treatment of the PoWs directly contributed the deaths of the following seventeen (17) named Americans, and other PoWs:

Sgt. Norman E. Albinson, Sgt. John E. Leisure, Cpl Julius F. Yackie, T/Sgt. Charles A. Pittard, S/Sgt. Jack R. Sheets, 1st Lt. Robert D. Drummey, 1st Lt. Burdette C. Goodrich, Capt. Armin J. Ortmeyer, 2nd Lt. Joseph G. Rich, 2nd Lt. Burdette H. Baker, 1st Lt. James M. Grey, S/Sgt. Frank Rodriguez, Capt. Wayne R. Westberg, 2nd Lt. Everitt E. Briggs Jr., 1st Lt. Paul E. Almand, FO. Gene Gambale, Sgt. J. Brown. (No corroborated information for a US airman for this rank and name has been found).

The court found TAZUMI guilty of the charge except in the case of the deaths of the seventeen (17) named Americans and other PoWs.

ONISHI was found guilty of the ill-treatment resulting in the death of 1st Lt. Robert D. Drummey and contributing to the deaths of Sgt. Norman E. Albinson, 1st Lt. Burdette C. Goodrich, Capt. Armin J. Ortmeyer, 2nd Lt. Joseph G. Rich, 2nd Lt. Burdette H. Baker, 1st Lt. James M. Grey, S/Sgt. Frank Rodriguez, 2nd Lt. Everitt E. Briggs Jr., 1st Lt. Paul E. Almand and Sgt. J. Brown.

Sgt Maj. UENO and Sup Pvt. UENO were found guilty of the charge except in the case of the deaths of the seventeen (17) named Americans and other PoWs.

The court sentenced TAZUMI, UENO Kiyoshi and UENO Koigetsu to 7 years, 3 years and 15 years imprisonment respectively.

ONISHI was sentence to death, however, upon review on the 14th March 1947 the sentence of death was commuted to imprisonment for life.

FO. Gambale’s remains were recovered on the 5th May 1946 from the Rangoon Cantonment Cemetery by the American Graves Registration Service (AGRS). On the 17th May 1946 their remains were loaded aboard C-47B 43-48308 of the 1304th AAF Base Unit to be transported from Mingaladon in Rangoon to Barrackpore in India. The aircraft failed to arrive at the ETA and despite an extensive air search no trace of any wreckage on land or sea was found and the aircraft, crew, passengers and the remains of this airmen along with another thirty-seven (37) are still missing to this day.

Burial Details

1st Lt. Warren Richard Kauffman. DFC, Air Medal. Repatriated and laid to rest on the 9th August 1949 in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia in Section 34, Site 5021/5022. Born on the 30th March 1922 in Greybull, Wyoming. Son of Harmon Sylvester and Amanda Ellen (née McCleary) Kauffman of Sacramento, California. Husband to Lois (née Brockley) Kauffman of Bakersfield, California, USA.

1st Lt. Charles Kenneth Pittman. DSC, DFC, Air Medal, Purple Heart. Repatriated and laid to rest on the 9th August 1949 in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia in Section 34, Site 5021/5022. Born on the 22nd July 1920 in Meade County, South Dakota. Son of Charles Edward and Jennie Dorothy (née Hlavka) Pittman of Marcus, South Dakota. Husband to Herma R. (née Durst) Pittman of South Dakota, USA.

1st Lt. Alexander Long ‘Sandy’ James III. DFC, Air Medal. Repatriated and laid to rest on the 9th August 1949 in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia in Section 34, Site 5021/5022. Born on the 12th December 1922 in the District of Columbia. Son of Alexander Long and Viola Elise (née Burden) James Jr. of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.

Above: FO. Gene Gambale, Walls of the Missing (courtesy of the ABMC)

FO. Gene Gambale. DFC, Air Medal, Purple Heart. Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing. Born on the 1st September 1920 in New York. Son of Alphonse and Rose (née Cafra or Cafaro) Gambale of Brooklyn, New York. Husband to Helen Josephine (née Ricci) Gambale of Brooklyn, New York, USA.

T/Sgt. James Morris Faulkner. DFC, Air Medal. Repatriated and laid to rest on the 9th August 1949 in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia in Section 34, Site 5021/5022. Born on the 23rd August 1918 in Monroe, Georgia. Son of William Columbus (deceased in 1938) and Martha Mae (née Rowe) Faulkner of Covington, Georgia, USA.

T/Sgt. Donald Edward Ball. DFC, Air Medal. Repatriated and laid to rest on the 9th August 1949 in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia in Section 34, Site 5021/5022. Born on the 4th December 1916 from Saugatuck, Connecticut. Son of John Henry (deceased in 1942) and Anna T. (née England) Ball of Westport, Connecticut. Husband to Angelina Florence (née Carusone) Ball of Westport, Connecticut, USA.

Sgt. Edward J. Harris. Air Medal. Repatriated and laid to rest on the 9th August 1949 in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia in Section 34, Site 5021/5022. Born on the 18th December 1909 in Washington DC. Son of Edward Augustus and Anna M. (deceased in 1931) (née Abel) Harris of Providence, Rhode Island. Husband to Helen M. (née Billich) Harris of Washington DC, USA.

S/Sgt. Melville E. Schultz. Air Medal. Repatriated and laid to rest on the 9th August 1949 in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia in Section 34, Site 5021/5022. Born on the 10th May 1922 in Cleveland, Ohio. Son of John M. and Amelia Schultz of Lockland Ohio, USA.

Capt. James W. Dorst. Repatriated and laid to rest on the 9th August 1949 in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia in Section 34, Site 5021/5022. Born on the 31st May 1919 in Newburgh, New York. Son of James Archer and Catherine Helene (née Woolsey) Dorst of Berkeley, Alameda, California, USA.

Researched by Ralph Snape and Traugott Vitz for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew. Thanks also to Traugott Vitz for his work on the ‘VitzArchive’. Addition of 2nd Trial narrative (Jan 2025).

Other sources listed below:

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