Co Pilot 1st/Lt. John C. Ryan MIA/KIA DFC
Hometown: Fresno, Cal.
Squadron: 512th BS 376th Bomb Group
Service # O-730621
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Brian W. Flavelle, MIA/KIA DFC
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.
Lt. Ryan was a recipient of his second Distinguished Flying Cross 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.
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 aproximatly 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. The Flavelle wingman descended to search for survivors which were not located. The 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.
Lt. Ryan appears Tablets of the Missing North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial Carthage Tunis, Tunisia Find A Grave Memorial# 56250110. His Butte County California memorial is a cenotaph. Lieutenant Ryans 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 Gunne
Hometown: Fresno, Cal.
Squadron: 512th BS 376th Bomb Group
Service # O-730621
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Brian W. Flavelle, MIA/KIA DFC
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.
Lt. Ryan was a recipient of his second Distinguished Flying Cross 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.
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 aproximatly 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. The Flavelle wingman descended to search for survivors which were not located. The 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.
Lt. Ryan appears Tablets of the Missing North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial Carthage Tunis, Tunisia Find A Grave Memorial# 56250110. His Butte County California memorial is a cenotaph. Lieutenant Ryans 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 Gunne
Co Pilot 1st/Lt. John C. Ryan MIA/KIA DFC
Hometown: Fresno, Cal.
Squadron: 512th BS 376th Bomb Group
Service # O-730621
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Brian W. Flavelle, MIA/KIA DFC
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.
Lt. Ryan was a recipient of his second Distinguished Flying Cross 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.
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 aproximatly 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. The Flavelle wingman descended to search for survivors which were not located. The 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.
Lt. Ryan appears Tablets of the Missing North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial Carthage Tunis, Tunisia Find A Grave Memorial# 56250110. His Butte County California memorial is a cenotaph. Lieutenant Ryans 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 Gunne
Hometown: Fresno, Cal.
Squadron: 512th BS 376th Bomb Group
Service # O-730621
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Brian W. Flavelle, MIA/KIA DFC
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.
Lt. Ryan was a recipient of his second Distinguished Flying Cross 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.
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 aproximatly 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. The Flavelle wingman descended to search for survivors which were not located. The 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.
Lt. Ryan appears Tablets of the Missing North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial Carthage Tunis, Tunisia Find A Grave Memorial# 56250110. His Butte County California memorial is a cenotaph. Lieutenant Ryans 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 Gunne
Inscription
1st. LT US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II PURPLE HEART - DFC
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