RANGOON ROSIE

NAME

SER

BLK

SERIAL #

RCL/#

V#-P

PHOTO CREDITS

RANGOON ROSIE

42-73067

436

00-1

STEPHEN VEREB

Lost 23 Jan 44, Burma - MACR 2091 - Pilot Benjamin P. Joy

Contributor - Jim Augustus

Info Contributor - Michael P. Hernandez
Lost on a bombing mission to Mergui on the Malayan peninsula. Shortly after coming off the bomb run the bomber was attacked from the front by a Japanese Zero. The bomber started down with smoke pouring from the tail. Although the plane was under control, fire raged inside and it crash landed on a strip of beach. It slid into the water and began to disintegrate as the forward portion was engulfed in flames. The wreckage came to rest and sank about 75 yards off shore from the village of Thingnaw. Eight men aboard died in the crash. Only the Navigator, 1st Lt Charles S. Huppman and the Flight Engineer, T/Sgt Grant L. Butcher made it to shore, although both were injured. Huppman died soon after and Butcher was taken prisoner by the Japanese. Because the recovered remains could not be individually identified, the nine deceased members of the crew were placed in a group burial in Arlington National Cemetery.