Last update: 14 August 2023

Crew 12

Twelfth plane to take off from the USS Hornet

Datasheet

- Aircraft Squadron:	37th Bomb Squadron
- Serial number plane:	40-2278
- Name of the plane:	Fickle Finger of Fate - no individuale marking -
- Take off date:	18 April 1942
- Take off time:	08.59 am ship time USS Hornet
- Place in line to take off:	12th
- Take off direction:	about 35 40 N 153 40 E
- Bombs on board:	1 cluster incendiary + 3 high explosive demolition bombs
- Bombed area in Japan:	Kawasaki (Kanagawa)
- Bombing of Japan - local time:	01:45 pm
- Fate crew - 18 april 1942:	Bailed out above China - 11.25 pm
- Fate plane - 18 april 1942:	Crash west of Shangrao, China

The Crew

37th Bombardment Squadron

Target

Kawasaki (Kanagawa)

The story of Crew 12

Although pilot William Bower was originally assigned to targets in the Yokohama area, he could not reach his targets in this area because of Japanese barrage balloons.

Bombers 12, 10, 11 and 1 crashed not far from each other. Between Quzhou (28°57'44.6"N 118°51'34.2"E) and Hangzou (30°34'32.4"N 120°05'50.9"E) in the Zhejiang province, China.

Crew bailed out above by Japanese forces occupied Chinese territory however crew 12 was not captured by the Japanese forces in China. Sergeant Omer Duquette broke his foot while landing with his parachute.

Crew was picked up by the Chinese resistance and brought to safety by them. They teamed up with Crew 10 and arrived with them in Chongqing. Before arriving in Chongqing they met several other crews. (see picture) Sergeant Omer Duquette travelled to Chongqin in a Chinese Sedan chair. (see other picture)

Engineer/gunner Sergeant Omer Duquette was killed in action on the same day as Sergeant Melvin Gardner (Crew 11) and Eugene McCurl (Crew 05). Missing in action on 3 June 1942 after a bombing mission over Lashio, Burma, now Myanmar. The plane crashed with two other planes into a mountain. Duquette’s name is on the remembrance tablets in Manilla, Philippines.

Needs to be checked but from my point of view, Duquette, Gardner (Crew 11) and McCurl (Crew 05) died on the same day in the same accident on the same spot.

Crew 12 - Pilot report William M. Bower - click here - copyright @ nara-usa - public domain

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Crew picture : copyright @nara-usa - public domain - colored by : Our colorful history @ https://www.facebook.com/historyrestored - used with permission - Thank you so much for the wonderful crew pictures.