Group Burial Information

Looking for information pertaining to the crash of a B-25J on 8 May 1943 on a misstion to Tien Ho Airfield, Canton, China.  The following crewmembers as buried as a group burial in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis
Last Name         First Name         MI      Suf      Rank       Crew Position
Blades                        Hubert                         F                          SSgt           Aerial Gunner
Cave                           Thomas                      H                         SSgt           Radio Operator
Kelly                            George                       A                         SSgt           Aerial Gunner
Lee                              Frederick                   B          Jr            1Lt               Navigator
Shirley                        Elden                           E                         SSgt           Flight Engineer
Weaver                      Douglas                     C                         Capt            Pilot
 
The co-pilot, 1Lt John B Lyman evidently was identified and his remains returned to his family.  I am looking for any further information on this crew and if anyone has the tail number of this aircraft.  The MACR database does not reflect this crash and the MACR I have makes no reference to it.  Thanks for all the help
 
 
 
 

Randy,
 
Another long overdue response:
 
MACR 16368, 8 May 1943, B-25C, 41-12670; (“Lonesome Polecat”)
11^th Bombardment Squadron, 341^st Bombardment Group
      Ten bombers of the 11^th Bombardment Squadron targeted Tien Hoa Airport, Canton. While the formation was approaching the target the plane piloted by Capt Douglas Weaver exploded just as bomb bay doors were opening.
     The remaining aircraft dropped all of their bombs in the target area scoring three direct hits on the main hangar. Large fires were observed in this area with billowing black smoke columns rising 10,000 feet into the air and visible for fifty miles. Several other fires were noted in the storage area with four to six enemy planes believed destroyed.
The cause of the aircraft explosion could not be determined, but was believed to have been premature detonation of the fragmentation bombs carried in the plane. All crew were declared KIA.
        It is particularly tragic in that Weaver, Lyman, Frederick, and Kelly had been part of Crew #30 and Shirley was on Crew # 22 of the original cadre (Project 157). They had been flying combat missions in China since July 1942. S/Sgt Cave had shipped aboard the SS Mauretania in May 42, joining the Squadron and participating on missions in August.
 Pilot                                Capt Douglas C. Weaver, O404102; KIA
Copilot                            1Lt. John B. Lyman, O440064; KIA
Navigator                        2Lt Frederick B. Lee, O789098; KIA
Bombardier                     S/Sgt Elden E. Shirley, 31027915; KIA
Engineer-Gunner              S/Sgt George A. Kelly, 16004674; KIA
Radio-Gunner                  S/Sgt Hubert F. Blades, 7008865; KIA
PhotoGunner                   S/Sgt Thomas H. Cave, 6576141; KIA