Loss Of B-24J #42-73309 'Trouble Maker'(v1) And Crew
This crew was lost on a 'routine' flight from Lingling Airbase (in Hunan province) for a short flight to a base at Guilin (in adjacent Guangxi province) on the late afternoon of 28 May 1944, departing during weather conditions 'overcast with thunderstorms'. The report lists the cause of the loss as 'unknown'. See a copy of the Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) here. The crew are all listed KNB (died non-combat mission). The men on that flight were:
1st Lt Kenneth S Starcher, Pilot, ASN O-735658, from Weston WV
2nd Lt Robert F Varney, CoPilot, ASN O-817554, from Lakewood OH
1st Lt John E Haver, Navigator, ASN O-796998, from Syracuse NY
1st Lt Elton L Aultman, Bombardier, ASN O-676401, from Tifton GA
T/Sgt Richard J Teeple, Engineer, ASN 35334754, from Decatur IN
T/Sgt Allen L Springer, Radio Operator, ASN 13074164, from Williamsport PA
S/Sgt Marcelus C Baker, Gunner, ASN 39552267, from Covina CA
S/Sgt Martin S Waite, Gunner, ASN 20323598, from Altoona PA
S/Sgt William R Verzole, Gunner, ASN 32383699, from Syracuse NY
Sgt Elmer Soderquist, Gunner, ASN 39174340, from Seattle WA
Sgt Richard D Arbogast, Photographer (16th CCU), ASN 35396499, from Morgantown, Monongalia Co WV
Much thanks to information/materials from sources like B24CoPilotNiece and Findgrave.com, and others.