Copyright www.aerothentic.com
The below information was prepared especially for this website,
and is aimed to give an idea of the remote area resources we deploy
to discover the history and truth behind MIA sites. Aerothentic
unreservedly
acknowledges (again) Aerothentic’s Chief Field Officer in Papua New Guinea, John Douglas, for discovering and sharing
the below find with us :
Our Chief Field Officer, John Douglas, has once
again found another definite MIA site through deploying his network of native
inhabitants. John has discovered human remains at an aircraft crash site at a
site in thick jungle about half a day’s walk inland of Cape Ward Hunt, Papua
New Guinea. Details of information on the only tag located at the site are as
follows:
Robert E. Frank
32303093
T42 43 A
(Next of kin on opposite side of i/d disk)
Mrs Blanche Terry
1016 South Ave P
Plain Field
N.J.
This Liberator was assigned to the 63rd Bombardment Squadron of the 43rd Bombardment Group, and was lost on 3 December 1943:
Crew
Capt Robert L Coleman 0-789137
2nd Lt Kenneth L Cassidy 0-802017
1st Lt George E Wallinder 0-662400
2nd Lt Roland F Ward 0-736737
2nd Lt Irving Schechner 0-673737
T/Sgt Paul Miecias 32302997
S/Sgt Albert J Caruso 32464441
T/Sgt William L Fraser 17035405
S/Sgt Robert E Frank 32303093
T/Sgt Robert C Morgan 16039363
Pvt Joseph Thompson 19039138
This Liberator went missing between Dobodura and Hanover Island, Bismarck
Sea area on 3rd December 1943 on an armed reconnaissance of the Bismarck Sea.
It radioed at 0035/L "Why aren't lights on?", presumably
as it could not find Dobodura. This was the last message from the aircraft,
and further attempts to establish radio contact failed. A two day search of
the area north of Cape Gloucester, its last reported position, failed to locate
any sign of the aircraft.
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