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| USAAF 5th AF 27th BG 91st BS  Doan Prewar |
Pilot 2nd Lt Douglas B. Tubb, O-421633 (MIA / KIA) MS Gunner Sgt Donald S. Mackay, Jr., 19000309 (MIA / KIA) Alameda County, CA MIA February 20, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Douglas. Constructors Number 893. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-24 Dive Bomber serial number 41-15760. Disassembled and shipped overseas across the Pacific and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 27th Bombardment Group (27th BG), 91st Bombardment Squadron (91st BS). This aircraft had an unknown tail number (two digits). No known nose art or nickname. On August 25, 1941 suffered landing damage and afterwards was repaired. By early February 1942 operated from Singosari Airfield (Malang) in eastern Java. On February 20, 1942 took off from Singosari Airfield (Malang) on Java piloted by 2nd Lt Douglas B. Tubb with gunner Sgt Donald S. Mackay, Jr. as one of seven A-24 Dive Bombers on a dive bombing mission against the Japanese landing force off Denpasar on southern Bali. As the formation apprached Denpasar, the A-24 formation split into halves. The first group included A-24 pilot Backus, A-24 41-15796 pilot 2nd Richard H. Launder and A-24 pilot Ferguson. The second group included A-24 pilot Galusha, A-24 41-15760 pilot Tubb, A-24 pilot Hambaugh and A-24 pilot Summers. Over the target, this A-24 was hit by anti-aircraft fire and failed to pull out of its dive and crashed into the sea. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also damaged was A-24 41-15796 pilot 2nd Richard H. Launder (survived) that later ditched. Memorials Both crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Tubb earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Mackay earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References Note, many sources list this plane as piloted by 2nd Richard "Dick" H. Launder on February 20, 1942. In fact, Launder piloting A-24 41-15796 (MIA). This aircraft was officially condemned on November 7, 1942. USAF World War II Army Enlistment Records - Douglas B. Tubb USAF World War II Army Enlistment Records - Donald S. Mackay USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-24-DE Dauntless 41-15760 Clarion-Ledger "Douglas Tubb Killed In Action While Fighting The Japanese" March 13, 1942 page 13 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Douglas B. Tubb American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald S. Mackay Jr. FindAGrave - 2Lt Douglas Bibby Tubb (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - SSgt Donald S MacKay, Jr (tablets of the missing) They Fought with What They Had (1951) by Walter Edmonds pages 394 (Tubb), 531 (index Tubb) Operation Plumb (2008) by Adrian R. Martin pages 93, 135-136, 362 (index), 297 (Appendix I) Harvest of the Grim Reapers (2021) pages 75 (map), 91-93 (February 20, 1942), 91-94 (February 20, 1942 mission), 92 (photo Tubb), 57 (evacuation list), 98 (Feb 19-20 crews earn Silver Star), 455 (91st BS, 41-15804 assigned Launder. 41-15796 listed as abandoned or destroyed Java), 515 (index Launder) Thanks to Edward Rogers for research and analysis Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated February 28, 2026 |
 A-24  MIA 2 Missing |
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