(Long Island, NY) I was reading an article recently about a missing WW2 aircraft that may have crashed in the ocean somewhere about 25 miles from Montauk. Apparently, the airplane crashed after developing engine trouble and an attempt to return home during a “live fire” training mission . The article says that the crew of a B-24 Liberator, code-numbered 42-75-25, was never accounted for, and that only the standard notification effort to contact the family members of the flight was ever attempted by the government. The families were left in the dark as to the final disposition of the mission and its crew until some documents were discovered, practically by accident, on the internet.
The piece I read on this complained that no search for the missing crew was ever attempted in the area now believed to contain the wreckage; it also says the crew-members names should be memorialized in an appropriate area.
The memorial would be a small token of gratitude, and would take something as simple as a mayoral or gubernatorial order to set in motion. A dive to recover the bodies is probably much less practical, as there is a 25 nautical mile area to cover in searching for a small aircraft. It’s unfortunate, but unless a private concern volunteers, chances are this aircraft and crew will remain missing.
The real problem for the families of the B-24 Liberator 42-75-25, is the lack of concern the government apparently demonstrated beyond the basic notification of relatives missing in action. Most WW2 families in this situation probably felt that further petitioning of the government would be useless as their individual military members listed as missing in action or potentially killed in the line of duty was a small number compared to the thousands killed overseas during the war. Who would they be to complain about one man per family?
The military has a very difficult time in any war effort keeping track of personnel, equipment, and other issues. The deaths of individuals often get lost in the larger problem of logistics, supply, and defense. That’s not to say that military members don’t care about their own; it is meant to point out that records get lost; shipments and flights get sidetracked, delayed, cancelled, and waylaid. In short, human error.
Unfortunately, when human error factors in, that’s when it is up to the families of those missing or killed in action to do something to remind the government that they exist, need answers, and have a right to the information. It’s not a perfect system, and many times repeated queries do get rejected by the bureaucracy.
Most people don’t realize that they actually have additional recourse in cases like these-recourse that actually works. If you or someone you know has relatives missing in action, killed in action with no remains forthcoming, or other situation where you absolutely need information from the government, take heart. If you contact your congressman by registered mail, spelling out the exact details of your situation, what you did to get additional information, and the lack of satisfactory results from the Department of Defense, I can promise you an interest in your situation. It may take a bit of time to get the wheels of progress moving, but a letter to your congressman is one of the best things you can do to get the attention of those in uniform.
I have experience in this area. When I served in the Air Force, I, a lowly enlisted man among hundreds of thousands affected by the Department of Defense order to take the controversial Anthrax inoculation, contacted my congressman with my concerns, I was given a relatively quick response along with a request from my congressman to keep him appraised of my situation.
It is never too late to get attention to America’s missing in action, killed-but-missing, and other situations that require serious governmental accountability before closure can truly happen. It’s not fair to keep the families of missing soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines waiting unnecessarily. If the information is in house, it can easily be declassified (if possible) and released to the next of kin. If you are one of these, please get in touch with your congressman or congresswoman as soon as possible. You may find the answers you seek much more forthcoming.
In closing, I list the names of those on the doomed B-24 Liberator flight, code-numbered 42-75-25. I hope they get their memorial. They deserve it. Many thanks to http://www.danspapers.com for providing the information on the missing Liberator crew and more.
These are the men who were on board B-24 #42-75-25.
- Pilot: 2nd Lt. Kenneth E. Wigness of Harlan, Iowa.
- Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Gene W. Sloan of Winfield, Kan.
- Bombardier 2nd Lt. Frederick G. Rhodes of Altoona, Pa.
- Navigator 2nd Lt. Rufus R. Nelson of Minneapolis, Mn.
- Instructor Navigator 2nd Lt. Martin J. Kew of Van Dyke, Mich.
- Radio Operator Staff Sgt. Edward J. Clancy of Milwaukee, Wis.
- Engineer Staff Sgt. Robert F. McLaughlin of Eden Ala.
- Radio Operator Sgt. Chester Webb of Sidney, W. Va.
- Aerial gunner Sgt. George W. Wilson Jr. of Farmington, Ct.
- Radio Operator Sgt. Joseph Hartzel of Chicago, Ill.
- Aerial gunner Staff Sgt. Joseph Jachim of Chicago, Ill.
