Crash of an A-20A Havoc between Australia and New Guinea on 15 or 16 or 21 November 1942

CRASH OF AN A-20A HAVOC
BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND NEW GUINEA
ON 16 NOVEMBER 1942

visits since 31 May 2003

One 16th November 1942, A-20A Havoc, #40-155, "Abijah Gooch", of the 89th Bomb Squadron of the 3rd Bomb Group, USAAF was lost somewhere between Australia and New Guinea. The pilot of the aircraft was 1st Lieutenant Francis C. Pruitt.

AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS COMMISSION
THE WORLD WAR II HONOR ROLL

Francis C. Pruitt

First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

0-442230

89th Bomber Squadron, 3rd Bomber Group, Large

Entered the Service from: Louisiana
Died: November 16, 1942
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines

The other personnel from the 89th Bomb Squadron killed on that same date in the World War II Honor Roll were as follows:-

S/Sgt Roger S. Martin
S/Sgt Roland C. Noyes, Jr
2nd Lt. Cornelius F. O'Leary
1st Lt Francis C. Pruitt

It is possible that they may have been some of the other crew members.

The Guild diary shows that this aircraft was assigned to the 3rd Bomb Group on 12 July 1942.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Gordon Birkett for his assistance with this home page in sending me the Guild diary which was provided to him by my mate Bill Swain.

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