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| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 405th BS  405th BS circa 1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Charles E. Besley, O-792204 (MIA / KIA) VA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Frank O. Burgeson, O-805750 (MIA / KIA) Cuba Navigator-Bombardier 1st Lt. Gerald Greenberg, O-666656 (MIA / KIA) Brooklyn, NY Radio-Gunner TSgt Elden W. Protivinsky, 18054138 (MIA / KIA) OK Gunner TSgt John A. Jenna, 19017267 (MIA / KIA) WA Crashed December 21, 1943 at 8:43am MACR 1544 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8936. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-20 Mitchell serial number 41-30771. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Modified into a B-25D-1 strafer variant by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Wartime History During August 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) "Sun Setters", 405th Bombardment Squadron (405th BS) "The Green Dragons". No known nickname or nose art. The bomber had the Green Dragons motif on the nose. On September 15, 1943 first combat mission. On November 27, 1943 last combat mission. In total, this bomber flew at least twelve combat missions. When lost, engines R-2600-13 serial numbers 42-76840 and 42-76863. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns in the nose makers unknown serial numbers 134063, 560888, 83669, 113977, 114295, 114030, 114123, 113953 plus flexible 565047 and 106473. Also .30 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers 89212 (fixed) plus 13204 and 122258 (flexible). Also a Thompson submachine gun serial number 35927 and two Springfield rifles serial numbers 415142 and 11173000. Mission History On December 21, 1943 in the morning took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Charles E. Besley on a bombing mission (strike 354E) by all four squadrons against Madang. The weather was reported as good. Leading the low level bombing and strafing mission was the 822nd Bombardment Squadron (822nd BS) followed by the other three squadrons. After releasing their bomb load, hit by anti-aircraft fire and pulled up to roughly 500'. At 8:43am last seen to crash in the sea roughly 100 yards east of Gragat Island (Kranket Island) off Cape Kusserow into Astrolabe Bay just south of Madang. On impact, it appeared to suddenly bounce into the air fall in two flat spins then nose into the sea and was observed resting atop a coral reef with the tail above the surface and the rest of the plane submerged in shallow water. When this bomber failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Major John J. Watkins pilot B-25D "Bar Fly" 41-30593 via Missing Air Crew Report 1544 (MACR 1544) page 12: "I was flying as fight leader in 41-30593 in which flight Lieut. Besley's plane was in #3 position. After dropping its bombs on target, his ship was seen to climb to about 500 feet from approximately 200 feet, apparently being critically hit by enemy ack-ack while flying at the latter altitude. During the ascent, the ship was seen to make a slow left spin and fall off suddenly, striking the water about 150 feet from shore off Cape Kusserow. The ship submerged immediately with no survivors seen." 1t Lt. David E. Beale navigator B-25D "Bar Fly" 41-30593 via Missing Air Crew Report 1544 (MACR 1544) page 13" "I was Navigator on the plane piloted by Major J. J. Watkins, The plane piloted by Lt. Besley was in formation just off our left wing es we went over the target. We encountered intense ack-ack over the target. As we left the target and started out over the ocean I looked for the plane on our left and sew it somewhat to the rear of its proper position and considerably higher than expected. The plane wavered and appeared out a control. It winged over and fell abruptly into the ocean from an altitude of about two hundred feet. It struck the sea about one hundred yards from shore. It disappeared upon striking the water but came back to the surface as was show by pictures taken by the tall cameras of several other planes. There was a slim chance for survivors although I went over the plane too fast to notice anyone free of the plane." Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Besley earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Burgeson earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. Greenberg earned the Silver Star, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Protivinsky earned the Silver Star, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Jenna earned the Silver Star, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Charles E. Besley NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Elden W. Protvinsky [sic Protivinsky] NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John A. Jenna USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-20 Mitchell 41-30771 "30771 converted to D-1 strafer (38th BG, 405th BS). Shot down by AAA and crashed into Astrolabe Bay, S of Madang, New Guinea Dec 21, 1943. MACR 1544" NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File does not list any of the crew as official prisoners of the Japanese Missing Air Crew Report 1544 (MACR 1544) created December 21, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles E. Besley FindAGrave - 1LT Charles Egbert Besley (tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank O. Burgeson FindAGrave - Frank O. Burgeson (news, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gerald Greenberg FindAGrave - 1Lt Gerald Greenberg (tablets of the missing) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Elden W. Protivinsky FindAGrave - TSgt Elden W Protivinsky (photo, tablets of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John A. Jenna FindAGrave - TSgt John A Jenna (tablets of the missing photo) Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area pages 255 (December 21, 1943) , AII-7 (December 21, 1943, 41-30771), AIII-17 (405th BS, 41-30771), IX-1 (index Besley) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 16, 2026 |
 B-25  MIA 5 Missing  Map December 21, 1943 |
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