Pilot 1st/Lt. Brian W. Flavelle, MIA/KIA SS
Hometown: North Caldwell, N.J.
Squadron: 512th BS 376th Bomb Group
Service # O-435680
Awards: Silver Star, Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Target: Ploesti (White I)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 42-40563
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: WONGO WONGO
Location: Crashed into the Med at 1130 AM, south of Corfu. Crew of 10 MIA/KIA
Cause: Probable reason for the crash listed as improper manual fuel transfer.
Flown by Lt Flavelle and crew as the lead aircraft of the second section to attack White I which was composed of 7 512th BS aircraft. Approaching Corfu at approximately 2000 feet, the aircraft was seen to develop a wing wobble, stall and fall away to the left before entering into a spin diving into the sea. The aircraft detonated upon impact and a column of smoke rose to 200 ft. Various positions reported in the vicinity of 38N 19E. Flavelles wingman descended to search for survivors which were not located. Their aircraft could not climb back to reach the formation and had to return to Libya. Probable reason for the crash listed as improper manual fuel transfer.
Flavelle is listed variously as 1st/Lt. and Captain. He was a recipient of the Silver Star for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 376th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries. Lieutenant Flavell may have been promoted posthumously to Captain, he was the father of four-month-old son whom he had never had a chance to see.
Flavelle name appears Tablets of the Missing North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial Carthage Tunis, Tunisia his remains were never recovered.
Crew of WONGO WONGO
Capt. Brian W. Flavelle Pilot
1st/Lt. John C. Ryan Co Pilot
1st/Lt. John C. Ryan Co Pilot
1Lt. Robert F. Wilson Navigator
1st/Lt.Jack B. Lanning Bombardier
T/Sgt. John H. Cleveland Engineer
T/Sgt. Willis S. Lutz Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Robert M. Bowden Gunner
S/Sgt. Melick J. Janacek Gunner
S/Sgt. Melicar J. Janacek Gunner
S/Sgt. Tim O. Mclaughlin Tail Gunner
Sgt. Sander Lazar Gunner
Hometown: North Caldwell, N.J.
Squadron: 512th BS 376th Bomb Group
Service # O-435680
Awards: Silver Star, Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Target: Ploesti (White I)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 42-40563
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: WONGO WONGO
Location: Crashed into the Med at 1130 AM, south of Corfu. Crew of 10 MIA/KIA
Cause: Probable reason for the crash listed as improper manual fuel transfer.
Flown by Lt Flavelle and crew as the lead aircraft of the second section to attack White I which was composed of 7 512th BS aircraft. Approaching Corfu at approximately 2000 feet, the aircraft was seen to develop a wing wobble, stall and fall away to the left before entering into a spin diving into the sea. The aircraft detonated upon impact and a column of smoke rose to 200 ft. Various positions reported in the vicinity of 38N 19E. Flavelles wingman descended to search for survivors which were not located. Their aircraft could not climb back to reach the formation and had to return to Libya. Probable reason for the crash listed as improper manual fuel transfer.
Flavelle is listed variously as 1st/Lt. and Captain. He was a recipient of the Silver Star for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 376th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries. Lieutenant Flavell may have been promoted posthumously to Captain, he was the father of four-month-old son whom he had never had a chance to see.
Flavelle name appears Tablets of the Missing North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial Carthage Tunis, Tunisia his remains were never recovered.
Crew of WONGO WONGO
Capt. Brian W. Flavelle Pilot
1st/Lt. John C. Ryan Co Pilot
1st/Lt. John C. Ryan Co Pilot
1Lt. Robert F. Wilson Navigator
1st/Lt.Jack B. Lanning Bombardier
T/Sgt. John H. Cleveland Engineer
T/Sgt. Willis S. Lutz Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Robert M. Bowden Gunner
S/Sgt. Melick J. Janacek Gunner
S/Sgt. Melicar J. Janacek Gunner
S/Sgt. Tim O. Mclaughlin Tail Gunner
Sgt. Sander Lazar Gunner
Pilot 1st/Lt. Brian W. Flavelle, MIA/KIA SS
Hometown: North Caldwell, N.J.
Squadron: 512th BS 376th Bomb Group
Service # O-435680
Awards: Silver Star, Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Target: Ploesti (White I)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 42-40563
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: WONGO WONGO
Location: Crashed into the Med at 1130 AM, south of Corfu. Crew of 10 MIA/KIA
Cause: Probable reason for the crash listed as improper manual fuel transfer.
Flown by Lt Flavelle and crew as the lead aircraft of the second section to attack White I which was composed of 7 512th BS aircraft. Approaching Corfu at approximately 2000 feet, the aircraft was seen to develop a wing wobble, stall and fall away to the left before entering into a spin diving into the sea. The aircraft detonated upon impact and a column of smoke rose to 200 ft. Various positions reported in the vicinity of 38N 19E. Flavelles wingman descended to search for survivors which were not located. Their aircraft could not climb back to reach the formation and had to return to Libya. Probable reason for the crash listed as improper manual fuel transfer.
Flavelle is listed variously as 1st/Lt. and Captain. He was a recipient of the Silver Star for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 376th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries. Lieutenant Flavell may have been promoted posthumously to Captain, he was the father of four-month-old son whom he had never had a chance to see.
Flavelle name appears Tablets of the Missing North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial Carthage Tunis, Tunisia his remains were never recovered.
Crew of WONGO WONGO
Capt. Brian W. Flavelle Pilot
1st/Lt. John C. Ryan Co Pilot
1st/Lt. John C. Ryan Co Pilot
1Lt. Robert F. Wilson Navigator
1st/Lt.Jack B. Lanning Bombardier
T/Sgt. John H. Cleveland Engineer
T/Sgt. Willis S. Lutz Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Robert M. Bowden Gunner
S/Sgt. Melick J. Janacek Gunner
S/Sgt. Melicar J. Janacek Gunner
S/Sgt. Tim O. Mclaughlin Tail Gunner
Sgt. Sander Lazar Gunner
Hometown: North Caldwell, N.J.
Squadron: 512th BS 376th Bomb Group
Service # O-435680
Awards: Silver Star, Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Target: Ploesti (White I)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 42-40563
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: WONGO WONGO
Location: Crashed into the Med at 1130 AM, south of Corfu. Crew of 10 MIA/KIA
Cause: Probable reason for the crash listed as improper manual fuel transfer.
Flown by Lt Flavelle and crew as the lead aircraft of the second section to attack White I which was composed of 7 512th BS aircraft. Approaching Corfu at approximately 2000 feet, the aircraft was seen to develop a wing wobble, stall and fall away to the left before entering into a spin diving into the sea. The aircraft detonated upon impact and a column of smoke rose to 200 ft. Various positions reported in the vicinity of 38N 19E. Flavelles wingman descended to search for survivors which were not located. Their aircraft could not climb back to reach the formation and had to return to Libya. Probable reason for the crash listed as improper manual fuel transfer.
Flavelle is listed variously as 1st/Lt. and Captain. He was a recipient of the Silver Star for his valor in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" August 1st 1943. One of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at tree top level the 376th BG destroy Romanian oil refineries. Lieutenant Flavell may have been promoted posthumously to Captain, he was the father of four-month-old son whom he had never had a chance to see.
Flavelle name appears Tablets of the Missing North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial Carthage Tunis, Tunisia his remains were never recovered.
Crew of WONGO WONGO
Capt. Brian W. Flavelle Pilot
1st/Lt. John C. Ryan Co Pilot
1st/Lt. John C. Ryan Co Pilot
1Lt. Robert F. Wilson Navigator
1st/Lt.Jack B. Lanning Bombardier
T/Sgt. John H. Cleveland Engineer
T/Sgt. Willis S. Lutz Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Robert M. Bowden Gunner
S/Sgt. Melick J. Janacek Gunner
S/Sgt. Melicar J. Janacek Gunner
S/Sgt. Tim O. Mclaughlin Tail Gunner
Sgt. Sander Lazar Gunner
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New Jersey.
Other Records
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