Bio contents provided by contributor John Dowdy:

USAAF WORLD WAR II
Navigator 1st/Lt. Jose L. Holguin POW
Hometown:
Squadron: 65th 43rd Bomb Group
Service #
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart.
Pilot 1st/Lt. William J. Sarsfield Jr. KIA

Target:Vunakanau Airfield
MACR #14590
Mission Date: 26-Jun-43
Serial Number: #41-2430
Aircraft Model B-17
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "Naughty But Nice"
Location: shot down over Vunakanau
Cause: Japanese fighter Crew of 10 9KIA 1POW

"Naughty But Nice" Crew
1st/Lt. William J. Sarsfield Jr. Pilot
1st/Lt. William J. Sarsfield Jr. Pilot
2nd/Lt. Charles E. Trimingham Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Charles E. Trimingham Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Charles E. Trimingham Co Pilot
1st/Lt. Jose L. Holguin Navigator POW
2nd/Lt. Herman H. Knott Bombardier
2nd/Lt. Herman H. Knott Bombardier
2nd/Lt. Herman H. Knott Bombardier
T/Sgt Robert L. Christopherson Engineer
T/Sgt Robert L. Christopherson Engineer
T/Sgt Leonard A. Gionet Radio Op.
S/Sgt. Henry Garcia Gunner
S/Sgt. Henry Garcia Gunner
S/Sgt. Robert E. Griebel Gunner
S/Sgt. Robert E. Griebel Gunner
S/Sgt. Robert E. Griebel Gunner
S/Sgt. Pace P. Payne Gunner
S/Sgt. Pace P. Payne Gunner
S/Sgt. Pace P. Payne Gunner

Mission History
Regular pilot Winfrey had a slight wound and was unable to fly on the mission planned for June 26, 1943 over Rabaul. Instead, Lt. Charles Trimingham flew in his place. Also, trainee Herman Knott was aboard.

Took off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby landing at Dobodura on the north coast of New Guinea to refuel and load bombs. Took off again at 1:45am on a night bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul.
Over the target, the B-17 came under intense anti-aircraft fire after releasing their bombs, but was not hit. The bomber loitered in the target area for another 30 minutes, and were about to return to base.
Approaching from lower altitude, a J1N1 Irving piloted by Shigetoshi Kudo, made three firing passes against the bomber using its upward firing cannons. The second pass killed pilot Sarsfield. His third attack set fire to the left wing and only navigator Holguin was able to bail out before the bomber crashed into the Baining Mountains south-east of Rabaul. Also shot down that same night was B-17F "Taxpayer's Pride" 41-24448.

Fate of Jose Holguin
Landing in the jungle, Jose L. Holguin was severely wounded suffering a broken jaw and back injuries. Miraculously, he crawled without food or medical treatment for weeks until discovered by local people and taken to Arumbum village where he was fed and given basic medical treatment. Because of his severe injuries, the villagers decided to turn him over to the Japanese in hopes they would give him medical treatment.

On July 17, 1943 Holguin was turned over to the Japanese who transported him to Rabaul. Detained by the Japanese Army Kempei-Tai (military police) he was interned at Rabaul Prisoner Compound. As a prisoner, Holguin received no medical treatment, interrogations and harsh treatment. During early 1944, he and other surviving prisoners were moved to the Tunnel Hill POW Camp and imprisoned there. He was experimented on by Doctor Hirano who deliberatly injected him with malaria. One of nine Allied prisoners who survived captivity at Rabaul and was liberated in early September 1945. His epic ordeal in a captivity is expressed in a letter he wrote as after the war to testifying about his captivity.

B - 17. Wreckage Discovered in 1982 The Nose Art was still Highly Visible. Five of crew remains were positively identified: Peattie, Knott, Garcia, Griebel and Payne and buried in their hometown cemeteries during 1985. Both Holguin and Winfrey attended their memorial services.