19 JULY 1944
CRASH OF A B-24 LIBERATOR
BETWEEN PORT MORESBY AND BRISBANE

B-24D Liberator, #42-40814, of the 64th Squadron of the 43rd Bomb Group, disappeared on a flight from Port Moresby to Brisbane on 19 July 1944. No further news from the aircraft.

The crew were as follows:-

1st Lt.  Robert W. Tosch (0-672905) (380th Bomb Group)
2nd Lt. Francis D. Lanore? (0-714715)
2nd Lt. Charles R. Struck (0-696269)
T/Sgt. Jack Williamson (33286545)
Cpl. William H. Henry (11053833)
Maj. William H. Smith (0-151472)
Sgt. Alfred G. Pashar? (11014377?)
2nd. Lt. M.C. Chandley, Jr. (0-821839)
2nd Lt. John E. Harriss (0-886066)
2nd. Lt. Robert S. Lasance (0-917976)
F/O Samuel T. Milliren? (T-2249)
F/O Neil B?. Sellers (T-2262), 8th Air Service Group
F/O John R. Snelgrove (T-190087)

Engines:- Type P.W.R-1830-43 A.A.F. Serial Nos

(a) 42-86675
(b) 42-50755
(C) 42-44540
(d) 42-51604

NOTE:- The "Aircraft Crash Sites - Australia" list shows this aircraft as #42-40816. It should be #42-40814.

Official Report

Subject:   19 July 1944 Crash of a B-24 Liberator between Port Moresby and Brisbane
Date:           Thu, 22 Jul 1999 20:18:09 EDT
From:          TlRoss24@aol.com

Peter,

I show that B-24D 42-40816 was delivered to the US Navy and assigned a BU number of 63929. This aircraft was assigned to VB 105 and went MIA on 2/26/44.

However, I do show that B-24D 42-40814 was assigned to the ATC and went MIA on 7/19/44. This aircraft has the MACR 9023 and previously belonged to the 43rd Bomb Group, 64th BS. I do not have this MACR in my collection but it can be obtained from the US National Archives.

Terry
USA

Subject:  19 JULY 1944 Crash of a B-24 Liberator between Port Moresby and Brisbane
Date:      Sat, 24 Jul 1999 12:20:44 EDT
From:    TlRoss24@aol.com

Peter,

Thanks for your reply to my bits of information no B-17 and B-24 aircraft. I am a history buff with interests in collecting information on the B-17 and B-24 aircraft along with the defence of the Philippine Island during 1941 and 1942.

MACR is a term used by the US Army Air Corp as an abbreviation for "Missing Aircrew Report" The MACR is identified by a number and A/C serial number and provides details the flight of the aircraft plus the fate of the aircrew.

There may be inquiries from surviving crew members on the last known position of the other crew in the plane or on the ground. The reports range from bare bones to very detailed and are usually available in microfiche format. I was in the process of ordering all of the MACR's for the B-24D type aircraft regardless of theater of operations but too many projects and not enough money have slowed me down a little.

BU is the United States Navy's numbering system. They would take delivery of an Army Air Corp plane already assigned a serial number and apply a new serial number to it for their record keeping practices. Similar in concept to the Axx-xx series of numbers assigned to Australian aircraft.

A B-24 aircraft was given the designation of PB4Y-1 in the US Navy

VB 105 is a designation for a US Navy patrol bombing squadron. The squadron number is 105 and VB stands for a bombing squadron. VPB stands for a Patrol / Bombing Squadron.

I think I have the MACR for the A/C in question and I'll look to see the details.

It is unusual for a Navy aircraft to have an Air Corp MACR. This usually indicates that there was Air corp personnel aboard the aircraft.

ATC is the designation for Air Transport Command by the US in WWII. Most replacement aircraft were delivered by various units of the ATC from one location to another even if the crew itself was going to be assigned to a particular bomb group. Some battle weary aircraft were also turned over to the ATC for use as transports. Several aircraft were lost enroute from the US to the battle theaters and are listed as belonging to the ATC.

I would be more than happy to try and answer any questions you might have on particular aircraft serial numbers, etc. Among my resources is a index of USA aircraft that were MIA, 98% of the aircraft records cards for the B-17 and B-24 aircraft on microfilm, a couple of hundred MACR's, a history of the 43rd BG on microfilm, and many books regarding the aircraft, unit histories, and theater operations.

Most of this information has been used to compile a master list for both the B-17 and B-24 aircraft that I use which contains in the following order:

A/C serial number, Other serial number (Navy, Australian, British, etc.), Battle Letters, Squadron Numbers, Nicknames/Nose Art, Date In, Group, Sqdn, Fate, Date, Pilot, MACR, Notes.

Hope that helps some and I just can't say enough about your web page. It is excellent in content, format, and coverage.

Warmest Regards from the USA,

Terry

SOURCE:-   Aircraft Crash Sites - Australia

Crash:         No. 11

Position:     27.37 - 153.19

Department of Aviation Chart No:       3340

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Gordon Birkett for his assistance with this home page.

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 14 June 1999

This page last updated 02 February 2020