Yap Island Mission Loss—13 July 1944

The following plane was lost on 13 July 1944 on a mission to Yap Island. I would greatly appreciate anyone's help to locate additional information regarding the information listed below.Submit additional information, updates, newpaper articles, pictures, and supporting documents to: pat@missingaircrew.com

Date:	Plane Type:	Unit:	Crew Names:	Supporting Documents:
13 July 1944	B-24	13th AF, 307th BG, & 370nd BS	All Men listed as MIA: Pat Note: Four men were rescued by a friendly submarine on 14 July 1944. Pilot: 2nd Lt. Walter E. Ball, Jr. Sgt. 2nd Lt. Wayne L. Simpson Sgt. Herbert A. Clark S/Sgt. Raymond J. Zeltmann Sgt. Milton R. Clendennen Sgt. Thomas W. Corley	MACR 10653 AC# 44-40609 13 July 44 Mision Report (pdf file 500 KB) MACR #10653 (pdf file 6.8 MB)
Description DAMAGE OR LOSS: A/C#609, Lt. Ball, pilot, crashed into the ocean at 08 48’N – 138 50’E between 1250 and 1255/K as result of E/A fire. Normal crew compliment of ten men were abroad. This plane lost #1 engine just after making the turn off the bomb run. The plane slowed its speed and it was immediately attacked by 5-6 E/A. #2 engine then began to smoke and began losing altitude rapidly, and finally crashed. Two men were observed in the water, one trying to get into a partially inflated life raft, and the other within a few feet of the raft. The plane floated for 3-4 minutes, but broke up, and much debris (bomb bay tank, oxygen bottles, etc) was in the area. Four planes were holed by E/A fire, one plane was slightly damaged by a phosphorous bomb, and two planes received small holes from AA fire. Please submit additional information.

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