World War II Honoree

Martin Patrick Murray

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lowell, Massachusetts

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR FORCES ON 14 MARCH 1942 AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. UNDERWENT B-24 AIRCRAFT TRANSITION TRAINING AT THE WILLOW RUN BOMBER PLANT IN MICHIGAN. DEPLOYED FROM HAMILTON FIELD, CALIFORNIA TO THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AT IRON RANGE AIRFIELD ON THE CAPE YORK PENINSULA OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. ASSIGNED TO 5TH AIR FORCE, 90TH BOMBARDMENT 'JOLLY ROGERS' GROUP, 320TH BOMB 'MOBY DICK' SQUADRON STATIONED AT FENTON AIRFIELD SOUTH OF DARWIN, AUSTRALIA. STAGED AIRCRAFT MISSIONS THROUGH WARDS DROME, FIVE MILES NORTH OF PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA. ON 27 OCTOBER 1943, HE FLEW IN THE RIGHT SEAT AS A PILOT ABOARD A B-24D LIBERATOR NICKNAMED 'SHACK RAT' (SERIAL #42-40918). IT WAS ON A RECONNAISSANCE MISSION OF THE BISMARCK SEA SHIPPING LANES, AND THE JAPANESE FORCES OCCUPYING THE PORT OF RABAUL ON NEW BRITAIN ISLAND. LAST CONTACT WAS DURING THE RETURN ROUTE AT A GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF 3 DEGREES +15 MINUTES SOUTH, AND 147 DEGREES +45 MINUTES EAST. THEY WERE DIRECTED TO LAND AT DOBODURA AIRFIELD DUE TO A WEATHER CEILING OF 2,000 FEET AND 12 MILES OF VISIBILITY AT PORT MORESBY. HOWEVER, HIS B-24 AIRCRAFT CRASHED IN THE STEEP SARUWAGET MOUNTAIN RANGES ON THE HUON PENINSULA OF MOROBE PROVINCE, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ALL ONBOARD.