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| USAAF 5th AF 27th BG 91st BS |
Pilot 2nd Richard "Dick" H. Launder, O-429818 (survived) Los Angeles, CA Gunner Cpl Irvin W. Lnenicka, 06581779 (survived) Surprise, NB Ditched February 20, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Douglas. Constructors Number 929. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-24 Dive Bomber serial number 41-15796. Disassembled and shipped to Australia 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. By early February 1942 operated from Singosari Airfield (Malang) in eastern Java. Mission History On February 20, 1942 took off from Singosari Airfield (Malang) on Java piloted by 2nd Richard H. Launder, O-421633 with gunner Cpl Irvin W. Lnenicka 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 approached 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 in the oil cooler. Lost is A-24 Dive Bomber 41-15760 pilot 2nd Lt Douglas B. Tubb (MIA). Damaged, Launder almost landed at Denpasar Airfield already occupied by the Japanese before realizing his error and aborted his landing and continued to fly until the oil tank drained from damage and the engine began to labor and lowed the dive breaks and ditched into the sea, skipping once then sank nose first and began to sink immediately. Fates of the Crew Pilot Launder was bruised but unhurt and after freeing himself from the cockpit went to the rear gunner position and found Lnenicka was unconscious when his head hit the radio and freed him and began swimming towards the shore of Bali until he regained his consciousness and the pair reached shore then moved inland and found friendly locals who helped them to move from village to village. As a precaution, they slept on the side of a road at night fearing they might be reported to the Japanese. At one location, they stole bikes and on their fourth day reached Gilimanuk on the western tip of Bali and aboard a local boat across the strait to Danjowengi (Banyuwangi) on eastern Java and were taken to Dutch authorities and put on a train to Soerabaja but the pair jumped off when it slowed down then made their way back to Singosari Airfield on their own and rejoined the squadron. Memorials Launder earned the Silver Star for the mission. Postwar, he continued in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and retired with the rank of Captain. He died January 24, 2014. On October 24, 2014 buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 65, site 3243. Lnenicka earned the Silver Star for the mission. He died October 18, 1992. He is buried at Terrace Heights Memorial Park in Yakima, WA at section 81, block 99. SBD-4 Dauntless 10575 and A-24B 42-54582 displayed at the USAF Museum is painted in the markings of this aircraft with tail serial number 115796 [41-15796]. References Note, many sources list this plane as piloted by 2nd Lt Douglas B. Tubb on February 20, 1942. In fact, Tubb piloting A-24 41-15760 (MIA). NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard H. Launder NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Irvin W. Lnenicka USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-24-DE Dauntless 41-15760 They Fought with What They Had (1951, 1992) by Walter Edmonds pages 394-395 (February 20, 1942 Launder), 523 (index Launder) (Page 394) "...Japanese shore batteries caught the plane [this aircraft] as it whipped over the narrow strip of land that joins Bali to the big peninsula called Tafel Hoek. Launder, who had pulled up a little saw an airfield [Denpasar Airfield] dead ahead which he took for a Dutch base; but as he started to let down on it, he saw the red suns [Hinomaru] on the white wings of a parked plane and went dizzily on across the land and ditched his plane in the sea about eight miles up the coast and 150 yards offshore, 'not too hard a crash,' though both men were bruised about the head." Operation Plumb (2008) by Adrian R. Martin pages 93, 135-136, 362 (index), 297 (Appendix I) College Campus in the Sky by Richard Launder pages 40-41 "I crossed over a beach, which for some damn reason, I took for Java. Up and over a little hill and there it was, salvation a beautiful airstrip." Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Richard H. Launder (grave photos) FindAGrave - Richard Henry Launder (Arlington National Cemetery) FindAGrave - Irvin Wesley “Sam” Lnenicka (Terrace Heights Memorial Park) 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), 385 (mentions loss of Tubb), 456 (91st BS, 41-15760 Tubb), 526 (index Tubb) Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional information 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 |
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