B-25J-10-NC Mitchell 336128 of 11th Air Force, 28th Composite Group, 77th Bomb Squadron, based on Attu, lost on December 29, 1944 during a fighter decoy sweep of Suribachi Airfield on Paramushiru Island, Kuriles (now part of Russia). Lt. Banker radioed Lt. Leonard Kupersmith that he was executing a 180-degree turn, but was never heard from again. The plane failed to return to base. No search was conducted. The entire crew was listed as missing in action.
I don't believe this photo is of its last mission, since such an encounter between a Japanese Ki-43 Hayabusa ("Oscar") fighter would have been reported.
Click here for the entire after-action report (23MB PDF)
Name | Rank | Crew Position |
Douglas Eugene Banker | First Lt. | Pilot |
John Robson Franke | First Lt. | Co-Pilot |
Jack Boyd Evans | First Lt. | Navigator/Bombadier |
Archie Lorraine Cathie | Capt. | Engineer |
Frank White Poplin | Technical Sgt. | Radio Operator/Gunner |
Michael Patrick Spillane | Staff Sgt. | Assistant Engineer/Gunner |
William Newton Travelbee | Pvt. 1st Class | Armaments/Gunner |