321st - Bombs Away

B-24D-5-CO Liberator Serial Number 41-23755 "Yanks from Hell"

Pilot  1st Lt James J. Crawford, O-433354 (KIA, BR) Christian County, IL
Co-Pilot  2nd Lt James D. Murlless, O-662590 (KIA, BR) Phoenix, AZ
Crew  2nd Lt. Howard P. Schertzer, O-790997 (KIA, BR)
Crew  TSgt Francis J. Donovan, 17040576 (KIA, BR) Lincoln, NE
Crew  TSgt Eugene T. McDonald, 17032868 (KIA, BR)
Crew  SSgt Yerger A. Smith, 34196864 (KIA, BR) MS
Crew  Sgt George E. Duigan, 11033290 (KIA, BR) CT
Crew  Cpl Jesse J. Haynie, 13023373 (KIA, BR)
Crew  Pfc Steve F. Konik, 35301047 (KIA, BR)
Crew  Pvt James W. Cooley, 10100052 (KIA, BR)
Photographer  SSgt Stephen Humenchick, 6910982 6th PRG, 8th PRS (KIA, BR) MI
Passenger  Lt. Col William A. Turner, VX48384 Aust Army Intel (KIA, BR) Sandringham, VIC
Crashed  February 7, 1943 at 5:38am

Aircraft History
 Built by Consolidated in San Diego. Delivered to the U. S. Army. Ferried overseas via Hawaii to Australia.

Wartime History
 Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 90th Bombardment Group, 321st Bombardment Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engine and weapon serial numbers not noted in Missing Air Crew Report 16406.

Mission History
 On February 7, 1943 took off from 5 Mile Drome (Wards Drome) near Port Moresby on an armed reconnaissance mission bound for the north coast of New Guinea, New Britain and Admiralty Islands then to return to 5 Mile Drome. Aboard as passengers was an Australian Army Intelligence officer, Lt. Col. Turner and photographer SSgt Stephen Humenchick from the 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (6th PRS). Soon after take off, at roughly 5:38am, this B-24 crashed for unknown reasons into a hillside roughly seven miles northwest of Port Moresby and two miles inland. Everyone aboard was killed on impact.

Recovery of Remains
 On February 13, 1943 the remains of the crew were recovered from the crash site.

Wreckage
 This B-24 crashed onto a hillside roughly one mile northwest of Gerehu.

During the early 1970s, the crash site consisted of the wing section with the U. S. star markings, one of the tail stabilizers, with one side damaged by fire. at least two propellers with propeller domes attached. At least two of the engines and wreckage from the interior of the aircraft including at least one of cockpit seat, armor plate and radio transmitter. Many aluminum pieces showed evidence of fire deformation and damage from the initial crash. At least one 500 pound bomb remained at the crash site unexploded. The starboard tail fin had the serial number 123721 (associated with B-24D-1-CO Liberator 41-23721).

Kell Nielsen adds:
 "I went to this B-24 on at least on eight occasions on my dirt bike, taking photos three of the visits. In 1970, I saw bombs at the crash site and bombs. On April 13, 1973 I took Bill Chapman up there and he informed the Army about the bombs. On April 29, 1973, I visited the site again after the Army blew up the bombs with plastic explosives to see the damage."

On April 20, 1973 an Australian Army Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) team visited the crash site and used plastic explosives to detonate a 500 pound bombs to render the area safe. Shrapnel from these bombs shredded trees and vegetation and trees in the area.

Bruce Hoy visited the crash site on October 28, 1973, observing the damage caused by the EOD explosives, shredded trees and leaf litter on the ground and in the process took a number of photographs. He visited again on November 4, 1973 taking more photographs and recovered a rudder pedal and the aircraft data plate. He also found another bomb lying in a dry water course down the hill in the direction of Gerehu.

During the late 1980s and again during the 1990s the crash site was scrapped for aluminum and metal. Today, only one of the main landing gear undercarriage legs and other pieces of wreckage remain at the crash site.

Memorials
 The entire crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. On February 14, 1943 the remains of the crew were buried with full military honors at Bomana Cemetery with a U. S. Army chaplain officiating. Australian Turner was permanently buried at Bomana Cemetery at B3. D. 9.

Later, the remains of the Americans were exhumed and transported to Ipswich Cemetery in Australia and buried as "Group Burial #4". Postwar, their remains were exhumed and transported to the United States for permanent burial.

Six of the crew are buried in a group burial at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery at section 82, site 41-42 including: Murlless, Schertzer, Donovan, McDonald, Haynie, Konik.

Two of the crew are buried at National Memorial of the Pacific (Punchbowl). Duigan at section B site 386. Cooley at section D grave 99.

Smith is buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
 Crawford is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Taylorville, IL.
 Humenchick is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Detroit, MI at section 10, lot 490-D, space 2.

References
 Note, some references incorrectly state this bomber was nicknamed "Yanks From Hell". Rather, pilot Crawford's regular bomber B-24D "Yanks From Hell" 41-23716 bore that nickname.
 Missing Air Crew Report 16406 (MACR 16406) was generated retroactively and does not list Humenchick
 8th PRS History “Humenchick an aerial photographer and was lost on 7 February 1943 in the crash of a 90th BG aircraft.”
Ipswich Cemetery "Group Burial #4" recorded as the following: X-12, Crawford, James J.  O-433354 - 1st Lt. A narrative was found reading:  (only one was legible). "'This body is one of eight unidentified recovered from plane wreckage on February 13, 1943, found seven (7) miles N. W. of Port Moresby; two (2) miles inland; (Grid location 838472, Port Moresby Special Map)'."
 Post Courier "Plane Found" April 20, 1973
 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 41-23755 (does not include photographer Humenchick)
 Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group page 40
 90th Bombardment Group History - Although the daily status records do not indicate the serial number of the aircraft, it is highly likely that this is the aircraft involved.
FindAGrave - Lieut James J Crawford (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - James D Murlless (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - Howard F Schertzer (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - Francis J Donovan (news, group burial photo)
FindAGrave - Eugene T McDonald (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - Yerger A Smith (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt George E Duigan (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Jesse J Haynie (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - Steve F Konik (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - James W Cooley (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Stephen Humenchick (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Lieutenant Colonel William Alfred Turner (grave photo)
CWGC - William Alfred Turner
 Thanks to Bruce Hoy and Kell Nielsen for additional information

321st Bombardment Squadron "Bombs Away"

B-24D-CO "Lady Luck" 41-11901  pilot Carlson February 19, 1943
B-24D "Patches" 41-23673  scrapped April 1945
B-24D "Cowtown's Revenge" 41-23750  pilot Riggins ditched January 6, 1943
B-24D "Big Emma" 41-23751  pilot Moller crashed August 8, 1943
B-24D "Yanks From Hell" 41-23755  pilot Crawford crashed February 7, 1943
B-24D "Little Eva" 41-23762  pilot Crosson crashed December 3, 1942
B-24D 41-23773  pilot Rose MIA January 6, 1943
B-24D "Czech'em" 41-23828  returned to the United States, fate unknown scrapped
B-24D "Crosby's Curse / C.O.D. Knot For Tojo / Who-Shives-Agit" 41-23836  scrapped December 1944
B-24D "Liberty Belle" 41-23920  scrapped at Stillwater, MN
B-24D 41-24101  pilot McMurria ditched January 20, 1943
B-24D "Joltin' Janie" 42-40065  pilot Povlsen ditched September 9, 1943
B-24D 42-40352  pilot Chovanec crashed April 30, 1943
B-24D "The Lemon" 42-41105  scrapped
B-24D "Hot Garters" 42-41188  pilot Poulsen crashed April 10, 1944
B-24D "Jose "El Diablo" 42-41227  ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped
B-24D "Ten Knights in a Bar Room" 42-72806  pilot Sheehan MIA December 1, 1943
B-24D 42-72899  pilot Buford February 29, 1944