| 2 Consolidated B-24D-95-CO Liberator bombers of the 13th Air Force, 5th Bomb Group, 72nd Bomb Squadron, in flight to attack Japanese targets at Bougainville in the Solomon Islands. The 5th Bomb Group moved operations to Munda, Georgia in January 1944, following the invasion and capture of that island, which was declared secure on October 7, 1943. Later, the 5th Bomb Group moved to Torokina Airfield on Bougainville. The B-24 closest to the camera is serial number 42-40752, “Fuzzy Wuzzy,” built at Consoldated’s Sand Diego factory in 1943. “Fuzzy Wuzzy” took off from Torokina Airfield on March 20, 1944, then proceeded to Nissian Airfield to refuel. The target for that day was Moon Island off Truk. After a successful mission, “Fuzzy Wuzzy” was last seen headed to Torokina when the flight encountered severe weather at 1247 Hours. 42-40752 was last seen going into a cloud cover with Japanese aircraft in pursuit. “Fuzzy Wuzzy” failed to return. They were not seen nor heard from again. 42-40752 “Fuzzy Wuzzy” was commanded on that mission by Pilot Flight Officer 2nd Lieutenant La Verne V. David (January 22, 1919 – March 20, 1944), Canada; Co-Pilot, Flight Officer Joseph L. Thomas (September 29, 1922 – March 20, 1944), Knox County, Ohio; Navigator, 2nd Lieutenant George F. Maier (July 15, 1921 – March 20, 1944), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Bombardier, 2nd Lieutenant William J. Rodgers (January 3, 1918 – March 20, 1944), Chicago, Illinois; Engineer, Sergeant Oscar R. Tiffin (April 12, 1922 – March 20, 1944), Jackson County, Alabama; Assistant Engineer, Sergeant Charles L. Sweet, Jr. (March 28, 1922 – March 20, 1944), Roanoke, Virginia; Radio Operator, Sergeant Thomas F. Lane – (1924 – March 20, 1944), Massachusetts; Assistant Radio Operator, Sergeant Kenneth C. Gove (June 21, 1922 – March 20, 1944), Worcester County, Massachusetts; Gunner, Sergeant Ernest J. Sheen – March 20, 1944), Utah County, Utah; Gunner, Sergeant Joshua B. Walton (December 25, 1921 – March 20, 1944), Downingtown, Pennsylvania. The entire crew was officially declared dead on January 27, 1946. Each crew member earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the Tablets of the Missing in the Philippines. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1838.jpg |
| Image Size | 143.24 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 1300 x 960 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 14, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Munda |
| State or Province | New Georgia |
| Country | Solomons |
| Archive | |
| Record Number | |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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