Here is some of the MACR information regarding Alfred E. Muldoon's crew on their 4th and final mission with the 77th Bomb Squadron.

MACR: 14942
77th Bomb Sq / 28th Bomb Gp.
Date of Loss: 6 Nov 1944 – Northern Kurile Islands
Mission Type: Photo/Attack  

Aircraft Type: B25-J 10/11 (med. Bomber config)
Aircraft S/N: 43-36151
Armament: 13 Browning .50-cal MG
1x Flexible Nose
2x Fixed Nose
4x Fixed Blisters left/right fuselage
2x Dorsal Turret 2x Waist
2x Rear Turret  

Aircrew
Pilot: 2Lt. Alfred E. Muldoon
Co-Pilot: F/O. Glen E. Morris
Nav-Bomb: 2Lt. Frank W. Putnam
Eng-Gunner: Cpl. Hubert G. Downs
Radio/Opt-Gunner: Cpl. Ola B. Kelso Jr.
Arm-Gunner: Pvt. Candaloro O. Salvato  
Additional Crew
Weather Obs: T/Sgt. James K. Hastings (11th Weather Sq.)  

Eye Witness Accounts
We were about five minutes out from the target on a course of approximately 78 degrees, under fighter attack at an altitude of fifty to one hundred fifty feet an airspeed of 220mph.  

Lt. Muldoon was on my right wing on tail-man in the four-plane V-formation. Immediately preceding the crash he was sliding from the right of the “V” to the left under my plane to make a Box-formation. The plane was badly damaged with 6ft. of the left wing-tip missing.  

He went into a vertical attitude before striking the water and after the crash smoke was visible and parts of the plane were scattered in all directions.  

No survivors were seen at the moment of impact, but high speed and evasive action afforded little opportunity for observation. - 1st Lt. Andrew L. Goller
_____________________________________

Lt. Muldoon was flying as our wing man and was on our right wing just out of the prop wash, about twenty, feet lower and 15 to 20 yards in back.

I was at the tail gun position and had Lt. Muldoon under constant observation until 20 or 30 seconds before the crash. My Co-pilot called out a fighter at 11 o'clock low; we were at 50 or 70 ft. altitude. I had been watching 3 enemy fighters cross Lt. Muldoon's plane which were on the verge of an attack. I immediately turned my head and saw a fighter under our left wing, flying a pursuit curve and firing at Lt. Muldoon's plane. The attack was made by a Zeke and I observed his fire strike ship 6151 just aft of the rear heater and continue aft to the tail. The rear turret was struck and the plexiglass was off the dome and strips of canvas were flutter­ing in the slip stream from the gun cover on the turret.  

Lt. Muldoon slid under our tail and. took up a position on our left wing where I paid no more attention to him until I saw a Jap Zeke crash. Watching the Jap crash, I saw Lt. Muldoon crash within a hun­dred yards. The plane sank immediately with no survivors. - S/Sgt. Raymond C. Ellis
____________________________

Narrative from 77th Bomb Squadron History  

Four planes took off on the morning of 6 November on what appeared to be a routine Photo Mission sent out to take pictures of the Paramushiru coastline, only three planes, however, returned to their base.  

For Lt. Alfred Muldoon, pilot of the lost plane this was his fourth journey “west”. Muldoon was a newcomer in the squadron. He received his wings on January 7, 1944 at Marfa Army Air Base, Texas, and officially became a member of the 77th in the latter part of September.  

Unable to take photos because of the cloud layers strung over Paramushiru, the mission swung north and spotted nine power barges sitting in Asahi Bay. These were thoroughly strafed by the four Mitchells.  

While flying in the Asahi region, one of our pilots observed between fifteen and twenty Zeros winging towards them. Nevertheless, our flight continued in a northerly direction and selected Torishima Retto as their next objective.   Lt. Willis Anderson dropped twelve incendiaries on the Retto. Lt. Muldoon unloaded four GP’s on the target scoring several direct hits on buildings and installations. Meanwhile the Japs pressed home the attack.  

After strafing and bombing Torishima, Lt. Muldoon started to change his position from Lt. Goller’s right wing to Lt. Goller’s left wing.  

While moving under Lt. Goller’s plane, Lt. Muldoon was jumped on by four enemy fighters – three from above and one from below. The single zero coming in from 0200 low drove his attack recklessly and vigorously and succeeded in seriously damaging Lt. Muldoon’s tail. The tail turret was badly riddled. The plexiglass was shot away, the canvas covering the guns was observed flapping in streamers behind the plane. Several large holes were in the tail surfaces, and the left wing had about 6ft. blasted away the wing tip and the engine nacelle.  

Lt. Muldoon’s plane immediately went into a dive and struck the water while in a vertical bank. The wings, engines, and tail surfaces were seen to shear off from the fuselage. The fuselage rolled on it’s back and immediately sank, followed by the other sections of the plane.  

No wreckage floated to the surface, and no survivors were seen in the vicinity. This was the first plane that had been shot down by enemy fighters in the history of the squadron.

-Jonathan

2nd Lt. Alfred E. Muldoon - B-25 Pilot, Attu, Aleutians, AK.
77th BS / 28th BG
MIA 6 Nov 1944

ABMC records give the navigator's name as Frank W. Putman.
 
Bob

ORIGINAL: LOABA
  
Aircrew
Pilot: 2Lt. Alfred E. Muldoon
Co-Pilot: F/O. Glen E. Morris
Nav-Bomb: 2Lt. Frank W. Putnam
Eng-Gunner: Cpl. Hubert G. Downs
Radio/Opt-Gunner: Cpl. Ola B. Kelso Jr.
Arm-Gunner: Pvt. Candaloro O. Salvato  
Additional Crew
Weather Obs: T/Sgt. James K. Hastings (11th Weather Sq.)  

Yeah, that's who is on the MACR - what is ABMC records?

And, I have heard that sometimes, when a flyer reported 50ft altitude, they actually meant 50 x 10 (or "500ft Altitude). So, is that the case here? I just can't imagine that there was room enough for a "below" attack on an aircraft that was only 40ft off the deck.

-Jonathan

2nd Lt. Alfred E. Muldoon - B-25 Pilot, Attu, Aleutians, AK.
77th BS / 28th BG
MIA 6 Nov 1944

Hello,
 
I have just read "Home from Siberia"
It lists some 291 US airmen who were to end the war in Russia. All entered from the Far East.It starts with York on the 16/4/42 (Doolittle Raid)then Pottenger from the 404th Squadron on the 11/8/43 MACR 13041.
 
One such crew, one of many from the 77th is the Wolbrink crew of six.
2Lt.Robert B. Wolbrink (pilot); 2Lt. Jerry M.Kroot (co-pilot)[Spoke Yiddish]; 2Lt.B.F.Field jr; Corporal Roy C. Caris; Corporal Matthew M. Glodek (Turret Gunner, dead on arrival) and Corporal Roy A. Dehaven.
they landed at Petropavlovsk on the 10th of June 1945.
Aircraft is B25 serial number 43-36151, MACR number 14942, but I haven't seen it only a reference to it.
Page 196
June 10th 1945: Eight B25 bombers from the 77th Squadron were ordered to strike at Araito Island west of Shumushu in order to divert enemy attention while an American task force approached to shell installations on the south end of Paramushiro. The eight aircraft were divided into two flights of four bombers each. Pilots in the first flight were Flight leader Edward Irving, John Tidball, Robert Talley and Robert Wolbrink.
Tidball is noted as recalling that the flight lost contact with the second flight.
 
The Irving flight unloaded their bombs over Araito and made a sweep turn to head back to Attu. However Enemy fighters were now chaseing the four, also they were being fired on from the ground (Russian Guns). Irving's B25 went out of control and crashed and exploded.
Meantime, Wolbrink's B25 was being raked by Japanese fighters and the turret gunner was killed. The a/c right motor damaged and prop feathered Wolbrink reported that he was going to land in Russia.
They subsequently belly landed without further injury.Glodek was buried near a Hospital where Kroot met and talked with a Doctor name of Golosofsky who spoke Yiddish, this helped in comunicating in later time at the Hospital.
 
The author had communicated with some 37 former internees including Wolbrink.
 
So, is this yet another situation where the same MACR number is given in two separate times ?
Yet the a/c is a B25 ?
 
As all 291 names are given in the book along with several references to MACR's I would find it strange that the names would be false.
 
O(ther 77th Squadron Pilots names also in the book are -
   Savignac - 12/9/43
   Roger     - 12/9/43
   Salter     - 12/9/43
   Hurst      - 12/9/43
   Marrier    - 12/9/43
   Head      - 10/9/44 - MACR 11271
McQWuillin - 1/11/44 - MACR 9607
   Winter    - 11/5/45 - MACR 14409
   Beever    - 20/5/45
   Wampler - 17/7/45 - MACR 14762
   Terris     -  17/7/45 - MACR 14763
 
Comments
 
Alex
 
 
 

Alex,
This sure is a puzzle. In searching two different websites (this being one of them) it would seem that Lt Woolbrink landed his B25 (serial number 43-36151) in Russia on June 10, 1945. Just as the book says.
But, that presents the problem. I have a copy of MACR 14942. It clearly supports Jonathon's message. It tells the story of how Lt Muldoon plan was shot down on Nov. 6, 1944.
I doubt there were two different  43-36151 that were shot down 8 months a part. And then have the same MACR numbers. I know that the one I have was ordered from afhso.research@pentagon.af.mil by way of requesting information on Lt Muldoon. I wonder if the same report would come from Maxwell AFB (Lynn.Gamma@MAXWELL.AF.MIL) and requesting the info for the aircraft?
 
If you like to see the MACR for this, email me at r_s_rendon@sbcglobal.net.
 
Russ

Attached Image(s)

Thank you Russ,
 
MACR received .Very much appreciated.
 
Nothing to do with you but -
 
There is a convienent paper crease going right through the a/c serial number's last two numbers, and also the top of page MACR number is not clear, the "9" looks like a "2" but if that was so it would become 14242 which is according to this site a P51 lost on the 13th April 45.
 
Also the top left hand side paper
"AFPPA-14(10 APL 45)"
 would this apear on paperwork of 1944 ?
 
The date of a/c loss being as 6th November 1944.
Even this site gives the loss of MACR 14942 as the 11th June 1945 for a/c B25 43-36151.
 
If this MACR 14942 B25  43-36151 is correct and it was for a loss on the 6th November 1944, then which aircraft was it that was given the same MACR number which fits in with the loss of another aircrew that became interned in Russia ?
 
The first MACR in the 14000 range was for a P47 in April 1945 . Would a higher number in that range be issued months earlier in the previous year ?
 
This whole thing is very puzzling .
 
Alex

Alex,
As you are aware, there are several good resources on acquiring info on MACRs. One being this site. But, when the information is in question, one needs to turn to the more official sites. The one that Jon used was for the aircrew, specifically Alfred Muldoon (his grandfather). He emailed afhso.research@pentagon.af.mil requesting information on his Lt Muldoon. That was the report I sent you.
 
The other site is from Maxwell AFB (Lynn.Gamma@ MAXWELL.AF.MIL). Here, you request information about the aircraft. I sent a request for information on aircraft 43-36151. I just received the MACR. It is the same report. (And yes, the same crease is in the report.)  Other places in the report mention the plane by name and the MACR number.
 
I guess the next step is to request info for Lt Wolbrink.
 
Russ

Hey, Russ, funny seeing you here.

Any new info on the Wolbrink flight?

-Jonathan

2nd Lt. Alfred E. Muldoon - B-25 Pilot, Attu, Aleutians, AK.
77th BS / 28th BG
MIA 6 Nov 1944

ORIGINAL: Alex Smart
There is a convienent paper crease going right through the a/c serial number's last two numbers, and also the top of page MACR number is not clear, the "9" looks like a "2" but if that was so it would become 14242 which is according to this site a P51 lost on the 13th April 45.

Per an eye-witness account, who talks about "ship 6151", I believe the aircraft number is correct. Also, on another page from the document I recieved, MACR 14942 is clearly visible.

-Jonathan

2nd Lt. Alfred E. Muldoon - B-25 Pilot, Attu, Aleutians, AK.
77th BS / 28th BG
MIA 6 Nov 1944

Johnathon,
The Aleutation War was called the "forgotten war" in a news article  in  1943.  Those that fought it are still largely forgotten.  My father, Spurgeon E. Duncan, was Squadron Communications Officer with the 77th Bombardment Squadron.  He was in the Aleutions from June of 43 to August of 45.  He kept a scrapbook during this time, and it has a lot of pictures of the people and places that were there.  Among these is a picture of your grandfather, Alfred E. Muldoon, and his crew.  This picture was one of about six crews' official squadron MIA photos.  Except that Muldoon's crew photo is labeled "Shot down by enemy fighters" instead of MIA as the others are.  It is a very handsom photo of your grandfather wearing his flight jacket with the patch on it, and a great big smile.  I have not scanned it yet, but can do so if you would like a copy. 
 
The 77th went by the nickname of "the deck-levlers".  They published a unit newsletter under that name.  When they report flying at 50 feet, they mean 50 feet.  Actually, 50 feet is pretty high for them.  They liked to leave a wake in the water as they approached target.  I have a picture of one of their B-25's attacking a ship and it can't be more than 10 or 15 feet high.  I have an article from "The Yank" that tells the story of one of their planes capturing a piece of the Japanese Navy.  While strafing a patrol boat as they approached from deck-level, they pulled up at the last second to drop their bombs.  The belly turrent was dented by scraping the pilot house, and the crew heard and felt a crash.  When they landed at Attu, they found the tip of the ship's mast embedded in the wing along with a tangle of antenna wire.  What a great prize they boasted!
 
You posted a narrative of your grandfather's last mission from the History of the 77th.  I have found a reference to a history of the unit written by Bailey K. Howard, but I have not been able to find a copy.  Is this what you reference?  If so, please advise where I might be able to get a copy.  If not, I would still like a copy.  Bailey Howard was, among other duties, the Squadron Historian.  He was also my father's bunk mate.  They communicated after the war.
 
This was a very tough service due to the weather and the isolation they endured.  They lost a lot of planes and crews, most of them due to weather.  They built an officers Club on Attu.  My father took pride in that effort.They bought 2 huts and a bulldozer from the Navy for 2 bottles of whiskey, and dug a hole in the side of the mountain to erect the huts.  My father took lots of pictures in there.  It was actually very nicely decorated and supplied.
 
I am having technical difficulties logging on to this site from my computer, which has all my stored data.  I can only log on from another computer station.  Please email me, and I will be glad to share what I have.
 
Sincerely, Ed
 
FYI - The PAISANO was my father's brother's B-17.  This plane and crew made their last flight over Germany March 3, 1945 where they went MIA and then KIA.