44-29111 B25
On 18 January 1945, a B-25J, “Midge,” # 44-29111, assigned to 10th Air Force, 341st Bomb Group, 490th Bomb Squadron, departed the airfield at Warazup, Burma, on a bombing and strafing mission of Nawnghkio Air Base. The B-25J was last seen near 10 miles NW of the Nawnghkio air base at 5,000’. The crew were:
Pilot Capt. Andrew J. Squire 0-691194
Navigator/Bombardier 1stLt Walter E. Bogart 0-717612
Engineer-Gunner SSgt Paul R. Wilburn 13045323
Radio Operator-Gunner SSgt Marvin Brahin 13177935
Armorer-Gunner 1stLt Frank Smith 0-397194
Armorer-Gunner Sgt James E. McDermott 32666256
The B-25J was last seen by F/O Orville Fjeldheim, T-125310, and 1stLt William H. Shivar, 0-707337.
F/O Fjeldheim reported that they bombed directly behind Capt. Squire, strafed the roralroad yards on the same run, turned left, and started climbing northwesterly. About 10 miles north of the target, Capt. Squire was behind them and a little higher. Capt. Squire was firing from his nose guns and black smoke was coming from the left engine. Their altitude was 4,500’. They made a 360º turn to get out of Squire’s way and tried to follow him. At 1310 hours, he seemed to be maintaining altitude but had black smoke coming from the left engine still. They next saw fire and black smoke coming from a very narrow ravine.
Lt. Shivar reported that his aircraft was returning from Nawnghkio air strip when, at about 1320 hours, they saw smoke off to the right. They circled and flames were coming from a small area but the jungle was dense. Coordinates were about 22º 37’ North & 96º 43’ East; on a bearing of 165º at 175 MPH for 4 minutes from the town of Monglong.
Capt. William T. Jones reported that they searched the area where the black smoke was reported and the B-25J’s course from 1630 to 1700 hours, 18 January 1945. Nothing was found.
The next-of-kin listed were:
Squire Margaret F Squire, W, 205-20 114th Rd, Saint Albans, NY
Bogart Ruby S Bogart, M, Rte 1, Spring Lake, Mich.
Smith Stanley G Smith, B, 915 Seneca Rd, Wilemette, IL
Wilburn Stella Wilburn, M, Jackson St, Summerhill, PA
Brahin Gertrude Brahin, M, 5851 Cobbs Creek Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
McDermott Mildred F McDermott, W, 59 Second Ave, Rensselaer, NY