T/Sgt Gardiner A. Corrigan 13047732 KIA
Technical Sergeant Gardiner A. Corrigan 13047732, KIA US Army Air Corps. He was born on June 8, 1916, he was the son of Robert E. Corrigan, and husband of Mrs. Geil D. Corrigan both of Columbia. He was formerly employed by the Bethlehem Steel Co., at Lebanon before entering the Military. He entered the service January 6, 1942, in Harrisburg Pennsylvania and went overseas in September, 1943 as an engineer and gunner on a B-24D #42-41043 bomber. He flew with 63rd Bomber Squadron, 43rd Bomber Group, Heavy. On December 16, 1943, B-24D #42-41043 was believed to have been shot down by enemy aircraft and crashed into the sea off southern New Britain in the Gasmata area. Technical Sergeant Gardiner A. Corrigan was killed in action at the age of 27, and he was declared dead by the War Department in January 1946.
The other members of his aircraft that were also Killed in Action on December 16, 1943 were:
Bolles, George J ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, CT
Corrigan, Gardiner A ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, PA
Friend, Richard B ~ T/Sgt, Radar Operator, NH
Hamilton, James B, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, NC
Harris, James J, Jr ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, VA
Johnson, James K ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, AR
Moskaluk, Joseph E, T/Sgt, Radio Operator, CT
Nason, Lewis V ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, ME
Orner, Ray B, Jr ~ M/Sgt, Observer, CA
Wright, Douglas H ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MI
The Last Mission History
On December 15, 1943 took off from Dobodura No. 4 Airfield (Horanda 4Y) on an reconnaissance mission of the Gasmata area. On December 16, 1943 at 1:00am, this bomber reported several enemy aircraft were following it. At 0200/L it reported its position as, 06185 15043E. At 0300/L, the operator transmitted “065…” and then broke off. Contact was never reestablished and a search failed to locate the airplane which is presumed to be lost. It is thought that this aircraft crashed into the sea off southern New Britain in the Gasmata area.
Lancaster County world war two
https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=13047732&bc=sd&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=704429
https://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-41043.html