USAAF, 5th Air Force, V Bomber Command

345th Bombardment Group (M) "Air Apaches"

498th Bomb Squadron "Falcons"

B-25D-5 "Hitt and Miss" Serial Number 41-30040

Pilot 1st Lt Bernard L. Foley, O-677699 (MIA / KIA) Lexington, KY

Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Wade Westfall, O-747932 (MIA / KIA) Portland, OR

Bombardier 2nd Lt Richard A. Hochadel, O-681887 (MIA / KIA) Albien, PA

Engineer S/Sgt William Theodore Branstad, 37424438 (MIA / KIA) Leland, IA

Radio T/Sgt Orville H. Diedrichs, 20919827 (MIA / KIA) Glendale, CA

Gunner S/Sgt Leon Monteith, 33325829 (MIA / KIA) Delaware County, PA

Photographer S/Sgt James J. Beattie, 31191049 (MIA / KIA) Bristol, CT

MACR #4110; Crashed: 29 March 1944

Aircraft History: Built by North American. Assigned to 345th Bombardment Group, 498th Bombardment Squadron during March 1944. Regular pilot was E. J. Hitt; Crew Chief: Radke.

Mission: Took off from Nadzab Airfield No. 4, Papua New Guinea (PNG) on a medium altitude bombing mission of Japanese Forces at Dagua Airfield, PNG. Weather was scattered alto cumulus clouds at 6,000' with unlimited visibility. Over the target, this aircraft left the formation and was seen going down; and failed to return to Nadzab.