Operation: Wewak, Papua and New Guinea

Date: 16th October 1943 (Saturday)

Unit No: 500th Bombardment Squadron (M), 345th Bombardment Group (M), 5th Air Force

Type: B-25D

Serial No: 41-30561

Code: Unknown

Base: 7-Mile Drome, Port Moresby, Papua and New Guinea

Location: Three (3) miles NE of Cape Moem, Papua and New Guinea

Pilot: 1st Lt. Donald Laben Stookey O-735686 AAF Age 27. PoW */Murdered (1)

Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. Herschel D. Evans O-729833 AAF Age 24. PoW */Murdered (1)

Armorer: S/Sgt. Thomas Henry Laird 34444568 AAF Age 21. Murdered/MiA (2)

Gunner: S/Sgt. Ernest Stanley Roberts 18069713 AAF Age 23. Murdered/MiA (2)

Radioman: S/Sgt. Max Gerstein 35355778 AAF Age 35. Murdered/MiA (2)

* Tunnel Hill PoW Camp, Rabaul, New Britain

Above: 1st Lt. Donald L. Stookey (Courtesy of The Oregon Daily Journal, dated 27th October 1943), S/Sgt. Max Gerstein (Courtesy of The Indianapolis News, dated 13th November 1943)

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 16th October 1943 B-25D 41-30561 took-off from 7-Mile Drome, near Port Moresby, on a mission against Wewak which is some 470 mls (761 km) to the NW of Port Moresby.

Jackson Airfield (7-Mile Drome) was one of a complex of seven (7) military airfields located in the area of Port Moresby in the territory of Papua and New Guinea.

The following is a precis of eye witness accounts that described the loss of B-25D 41-30561 and the analysis of photographs taken of the ditched aircraft.

As the formation crossed Borem Point on the Wewak peninsula the three aircraft of “C” Flight came under intense, accurate A/A and M/G fire. About one (1) mile from Wevak the left engine of 1st Lt. Stookey’s aircraft began smoking and was seen dropping behind as they crossed the primary target. However, the aircraft almost regained position as the turn away from the target commenced but then lost altitude and began falling back.

Due to smoke and sudden loss of position in the formation, it was believed by the eyewitnesses, that ground fire had damaged the left engine and possibly the left control surfaces of 1st Lt. Stookey’s aircraft. During the turn away the remaining aircraft came under attack by a small number of Japanese fighters but none were seen to make a pass at his aircraft.

1st Lt. Moore from the 501st Bombardment Squadron observed a 500th Sqn aircraft flying in a definite crab to the right with wings approximately level suggesting a failure of the right engine. At one time, enough altitude was lost for the propeller on the good engine to leave a definite wake in the water. The aircraft was seen loosing considerable speed and begin a slow descent into the sea.

1st Lt. Orbry H. Moore O-793431 was posted MiA along with his crew on the 2nd November 1943 on a mission to Rabaul when his B-25D 41-30094 was shot down by Anti-Aircraft fire.

The actual ditching was hidden from the pilot’s view by his aircraft’s right wing but when he completed the 360 degree turn the aircraft again came in view with just a small section of it’s tail assembly visible in the water, which also immediately disappeared. He estimated the maximum time from the actual ditching to the time the aircraft disappeared was about 1½ minutes.

As they approached the ditching site one (1) open raft with two (2) men on board was seen. No other rafts were seen in the water so he ordered their aircraft’s raft to be dropped. Upon the second orbit the two (2) men were seen in the open life raft with a third (3rd) man being pulled in whilst heading for shore. Two (2) other men were opening another raft. After making a third orbit his flight of three (3) headed back to base leaving a couple of other B-25s, and a flight of four (4) P-38s still orbiting.

The estimated spot of the ditching was 10 miles east of Wewak airdrome and about 3 miles NE of Cape Moem. The time of leaving the target was 11:00 hrs and the estimated time 1st Lt. Moore left the ditching site of the plane was 11:10 hrs.

Afterwards, the entire crew were captured by the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) were taken to Kairiru Island.

(1) After the Japanese were defeated on New Britain it was found that there were only eight (8) surviving Allied PoWs at the Tunnel Hill PoW camp whereas it was expected to find a great many more. An investigation was instigated by the 18th Australian War Graves Unit to determine the fate of the PoWs that were thought to have been held on New Britain.

The investigation found that 1st Lt. Stookey and 2nd Lt. Evans were initially held at the PoW camp at Rabaul. They were was amongst the approximately fifty-four (54) PoWs who were moved from Rabaul to the Tanoura Mountain pass by truck. Surviving PoWs last saw 2nd Lt. Evans on the 4th/5th March 1944 and was suffering from Dysentery.

It was claimed by the Japanese that 1st Lt. Stookey and 2nd Lt. Evans were amongst thirty-one (31) PoWs who were killed in an Allied air-raid on the 4th/5th March 1944. However, after interrogating Japanese officers and soldiers stationed at Rabaul during the war the investigation came to the conclusion that this claim was not credible and that the PoWs had been executed.

An overview of the investigation into the circumstances of the deaths and those deemed to be responsible for the executions and atrocities is summarised in the report entitled “Talili Bay Massacre, New Britain”.(Insert Link when complete)

(2) Between early September 1943 until the middle of April 1945, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) on Kairiru Island was responsible for the detention, interrogation, torture and execution of at least eleven (11) Allied PoW including nine (9) Americans and two (2) Australians at Saint John's Mission, Kairiru Island.

It is believed that S/Sgt. Laird, S/Sgt. Roberts and S/Sgt. Gerstein were amongst the nine (9) Americans executed. (Further investigation ongoing)

Burial details:

Above group burial marker including 1st Lt. Donald L. Stookey, 2nd Lt. Herschel D. Evans (Courtesy of KcK - FindAGrave)

1st Lt. Donald Laben Stookey. Ashes repatriated and laid to rest on the 21st March 1950 in a group burial at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri, Plot 78, Grave 930 to 934. Born on the 3rd May 1916 in Rochester, Fulton County, Indiana. Son of Rolla Ellsworth and Ethel Virginia (née Hazen) Stookey of Gresham, Oregan. Husband to Jessie Olive (née Banks) Stookey of Portland, Oregon, USA.

2nd Lt. Herschel D. Evans. Ashes repatriated and laid to rest on the 21st March 1950 in a group burial at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missouri, Plot 78, Grave 930 to 934. Born on the 28th April 1919 in Little Rock, Arkansas. Son of Grover C and Clara (née Housner) Evans of Fayetteville, Washington County, Arkansas, USA.

Above: S/Sgt. Thomas H. Laird, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)

S/Sgt. Thomas Henry Laird. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal (AM). Manila American Cemetery, Tablets of the Missing (Date of death recorded as 22nd January 1946). Born on the 17th June 1922 in Norfolk, Virginia. Son of Charles Gilbert and Jeanette (née Hollis) Laird of Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia, USA.

Above: S/Sgt. Ernest S. Roberts, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)

S/Sgt. Ernest Stanley Roberts. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal (AM). Manila American Cemetery, Tablets of the Missing. (Date of death recorded as 22nd January 1946). Born on the 7th November 1919 in Moorefield, Nebraska. Son of Sydney R. and Ora S. (née Brown) Roberts of Arapahoe, Cheyenne County, Colorado, USA.

Above: S/Sgt. Max Gerstein, Manila American Cemetery, Walls of the Missing (Courtesy of the ABMC)

S/Sgt. Max Gerstein. Purple Heart (PH), Air Medal (AM). Manila American Cemetery, Tablets of the Missing (Date of death recorded as 22nd January 1946). Born on the 21st September 1908 in Chicago, Illinois. Son of Sigmund and Rose (née Rosenberg) Gerstein. Both his parents predeceased him in February 1942 and April 1916 respectively. Husband of Vera Waneta (née Manis) Gerstein of Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the crew and their relatives (Jan 2026)

Other sources listed below:

References(s):

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

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