Burial Here (Arlington)
Cenotaph Here (Pennsylvania)
B-24D-170-CO "Here T'is" Serial Number 42-72946
Mission History
On April 16, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield (No 3) piloted by 2nd Lt Raymond A. Cooley on a bombing mission against Annanberg to Hollandia. Returning, the formation encountered severe weather and the formation broke up and began flying on instruments. Pilot Cooley was instructed to take a heading for Saidor and proceed alone. He acknowledged and stated he was gaining altitude. This was the last radio contact.
This B-24 was last seen 50 miles north of Faita at an altitude of 2,000' on a 90° bearing in bad weather. When this bomber failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA).
Wreckage
In fact, this B-24 crashed at an altitude of 4,700' near Kunukio in the Finesterre Range. During 2001, the crash site was discovered only 700 meters from B-24J 42-100225 that crashed returning from the same mission. This crash site was designated by U.S. Army CILHI "PP46".
Recovery of Remains
During 2002, a team from U.S. Army CILHI with Brian Bennett visited the crash site and recovered the remains of the crew and personal effects.
The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 25 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After the 2007 identifications, a rosette was added next to name of each crew member. On September 7, 2007 the remains of the crew were buried in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8054. The epitaph on the grave reads "Downed aircraft - New Guinea April 16, 1944"
S/O Flora M. (Cramer) & Donald Franklin Grady
Service # 0-685799
Unit 403rd Bomber Squadron, 43rd Bomber Group, Heavy
Rank Second Lieutenant U.S. Army Air Forces
★ Purple Heart
★ Air Medal
Status Recovered
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Source material Pacific Wrecks
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
B-24D-170-CO "Here T'is" Serial Number 42-72946
Pilot 2nd Lt Raymond A. Cooley, O-888887 (MIA / KIA) Leary, TX
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Dudley R. Ives, O-687035 (MIA / KIA) Aransas Pass/Ingleside, TX
Navigator 2nd Lt George E. Archer, O-685343 (MIA / KIA) Cushing, OK
Bombardier 2nd Lt Donald F. Grady, O-685799 (MIA / KIA) Harrisburg, PA
Engineer TSgt Richard R. Sargent, 13128550 (MIA / KIA) North Girard, PA
Asst. Engineer S/Sgt Norman L. Nell, 17164634 (MIA / KIA) Tarkio, MO
Radio TSgt Steve Zayac, 20522589 (MIA / KIA) Cleveland, OH
Asst. Radio SSgt Thomas G. Knight, 16126500 (MIA / KIA) Brookfield, IL
Gunner SSgt Blair W. Smith, 33135850 (MIA / KIA) Nu Mine, PA
Tail Gunner SSgt Joseph M. King, 36576814 (MIA / KIA) Detroit, MI
Crashed April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday"
Cenotaph Here (Pennsylvania)
B-24D-170-CO "Here T'is" Serial Number 42-72946
Mission History
On April 16, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield (No 3) piloted by 2nd Lt Raymond A. Cooley on a bombing mission against Annanberg to Hollandia. Returning, the formation encountered severe weather and the formation broke up and began flying on instruments. Pilot Cooley was instructed to take a heading for Saidor and proceed alone. He acknowledged and stated he was gaining altitude. This was the last radio contact.
This B-24 was last seen 50 miles north of Faita at an altitude of 2,000' on a 90° bearing in bad weather. When this bomber failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA).
Wreckage
In fact, this B-24 crashed at an altitude of 4,700' near Kunukio in the Finesterre Range. During 2001, the crash site was discovered only 700 meters from B-24J 42-100225 that crashed returning from the same mission. This crash site was designated by U.S. Army CILHI "PP46".
Recovery of Remains
During 2002, a team from U.S. Army CILHI with Brian Bennett visited the crash site and recovered the remains of the crew and personal effects.
The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 25 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After the 2007 identifications, a rosette was added next to name of each crew member. On September 7, 2007 the remains of the crew were buried in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8054. The epitaph on the grave reads "Downed aircraft - New Guinea April 16, 1944"
S/O Flora M. (Cramer) & Donald Franklin Grady
Service # 0-685799
Unit 403rd Bomber Squadron, 43rd Bomber Group, Heavy
Rank Second Lieutenant U.S. Army Air Forces
★ Purple Heart
★ Air Medal
Status Recovered
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Source material Pacific Wrecks
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
B-24D-170-CO "Here T'is" Serial Number 42-72946
Pilot 2nd Lt Raymond A. Cooley, O-888887 (MIA / KIA) Leary, TX
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Dudley R. Ives, O-687035 (MIA / KIA) Aransas Pass/Ingleside, TX
Navigator 2nd Lt George E. Archer, O-685343 (MIA / KIA) Cushing, OK
Bombardier 2nd Lt Donald F. Grady, O-685799 (MIA / KIA) Harrisburg, PA
Engineer TSgt Richard R. Sargent, 13128550 (MIA / KIA) North Girard, PA
Asst. Engineer S/Sgt Norman L. Nell, 17164634 (MIA / KIA) Tarkio, MO
Radio TSgt Steve Zayac, 20522589 (MIA / KIA) Cleveland, OH
Asst. Radio SSgt Thomas G. Knight, 16126500 (MIA / KIA) Brookfield, IL
Gunner SSgt Blair W. Smith, 33135850 (MIA / KIA) Nu Mine, PA
Tail Gunner SSgt Joseph M. King, 36576814 (MIA / KIA) Detroit, MI
Crashed April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday"
Burial Here (Arlington)
Cenotaph Here (Pennsylvania)
B-24D-170-CO "Here T'is" Serial Number 42-72946
Mission History
On April 16, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield (No 3) piloted by 2nd Lt Raymond A. Cooley on a bombing mission against Annanberg to Hollandia. Returning, the formation encountered severe weather and the formation broke up and began flying on instruments. Pilot Cooley was instructed to take a heading for Saidor and proceed alone. He acknowledged and stated he was gaining altitude. This was the last radio contact.
This B-24 was last seen 50 miles north of Faita at an altitude of 2,000' on a 90° bearing in bad weather. When this bomber failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA).
Wreckage
In fact, this B-24 crashed at an altitude of 4,700' near Kunukio in the Finesterre Range. During 2001, the crash site was discovered only 700 meters from B-24J 42-100225 that crashed returning from the same mission. This crash site was designated by U.S. Army CILHI "PP46".
Recovery of Remains
During 2002, a team from U.S. Army CILHI with Brian Bennett visited the crash site and recovered the remains of the crew and personal effects.
The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 25 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After the 2007 identifications, a rosette was added next to name of each crew member. On September 7, 2007 the remains of the crew were buried in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8054. The epitaph on the grave reads "Downed aircraft - New Guinea April 16, 1944"
S/O Flora M. (Cramer) & Donald Franklin Grady
Service # 0-685799
Unit 403rd Bomber Squadron, 43rd Bomber Group, Heavy
Rank Second Lieutenant U.S. Army Air Forces
★ Purple Heart
★ Air Medal
Status Recovered
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Source material Pacific Wrecks
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
B-24D-170-CO "Here T'is" Serial Number 42-72946
Pilot 2nd Lt Raymond A. Cooley, O-888887 (MIA / KIA) Leary, TX
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Dudley R. Ives, O-687035 (MIA / KIA) Aransas Pass/Ingleside, TX
Navigator 2nd Lt George E. Archer, O-685343 (MIA / KIA) Cushing, OK
Bombardier 2nd Lt Donald F. Grady, O-685799 (MIA / KIA) Harrisburg, PA
Engineer TSgt Richard R. Sargent, 13128550 (MIA / KIA) North Girard, PA
Asst. Engineer S/Sgt Norman L. Nell, 17164634 (MIA / KIA) Tarkio, MO
Radio TSgt Steve Zayac, 20522589 (MIA / KIA) Cleveland, OH
Asst. Radio SSgt Thomas G. Knight, 16126500 (MIA / KIA) Brookfield, IL
Gunner SSgt Blair W. Smith, 33135850 (MIA / KIA) Nu Mine, PA
Tail Gunner SSgt Joseph M. King, 36576814 (MIA / KIA) Detroit, MI
Crashed April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday"
Cenotaph Here (Pennsylvania)
B-24D-170-CO "Here T'is" Serial Number 42-72946
Mission History
On April 16, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield (No 3) piloted by 2nd Lt Raymond A. Cooley on a bombing mission against Annanberg to Hollandia. Returning, the formation encountered severe weather and the formation broke up and began flying on instruments. Pilot Cooley was instructed to take a heading for Saidor and proceed alone. He acknowledged and stated he was gaining altitude. This was the last radio contact.
This B-24 was last seen 50 miles north of Faita at an altitude of 2,000' on a 90° bearing in bad weather. When this bomber failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA).
Wreckage
In fact, this B-24 crashed at an altitude of 4,700' near Kunukio in the Finesterre Range. During 2001, the crash site was discovered only 700 meters from B-24J 42-100225 that crashed returning from the same mission. This crash site was designated by U.S. Army CILHI "PP46".
Recovery of Remains
During 2002, a team from U.S. Army CILHI with Brian Bennett visited the crash site and recovered the remains of the crew and personal effects.
The entire crew was officially declared dead on February 25 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After the 2007 identifications, a rosette was added next to name of each crew member. On September 7, 2007 the remains of the crew were buried in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8054. The epitaph on the grave reads "Downed aircraft - New Guinea April 16, 1944"
S/O Flora M. (Cramer) & Donald Franklin Grady
Service # 0-685799
Unit 403rd Bomber Squadron, 43rd Bomber Group, Heavy
Rank Second Lieutenant U.S. Army Air Forces
★ Purple Heart
★ Air Medal
Status Recovered
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Source material Pacific Wrecks
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
B-24D-170-CO "Here T'is" Serial Number 42-72946
Pilot 2nd Lt Raymond A. Cooley, O-888887 (MIA / KIA) Leary, TX
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Dudley R. Ives, O-687035 (MIA / KIA) Aransas Pass/Ingleside, TX
Navigator 2nd Lt George E. Archer, O-685343 (MIA / KIA) Cushing, OK
Bombardier 2nd Lt Donald F. Grady, O-685799 (MIA / KIA) Harrisburg, PA
Engineer TSgt Richard R. Sargent, 13128550 (MIA / KIA) North Girard, PA
Asst. Engineer S/Sgt Norman L. Nell, 17164634 (MIA / KIA) Tarkio, MO
Radio TSgt Steve Zayac, 20522589 (MIA / KIA) Cleveland, OH
Asst. Radio SSgt Thomas G. Knight, 16126500 (MIA / KIA) Brookfield, IL
Gunner SSgt Blair W. Smith, 33135850 (MIA / KIA) Nu Mine, PA
Tail Gunner SSgt Joseph M. King, 36576814 (MIA / KIA) Detroit, MI
Crashed April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday"
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Pennsylvania
Family Members
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