On January 8, 1945, a B-24J Liberator (Serial Number 44-40553), with a crew of eleven, departed Morotai Island [Maluku Island, Indonesia] for a strike against Nielsen Airdrome, Rizal Province, the Philippines. Other aviators in this Liberator's group reported that enemy antiaircraft fire began shortly after the bombers passed over the target. At about the same time, this Liberator caught fire and began to fall out of formation. At least four men were seen bailing out of the plane shortly before it exploded. Witnesses believed that only one of the men may have reached the ground safely, but there is no record of him, or anyone else from the crew, surviving the incident. Eventually, remains of nine crewmen were recovered and identified, but two members of the crew remain unaccounted-for.
Staff Sergeant Harold R. Sargent entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from California and served in the 370th Bombardment Squadron, 307th Bombardment Group. He was a gunner on this Liberator when it was lost, and he was killed in the incident. His remains have not been recovered or identified following the war, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Staff Sergeant Sargent is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
Based on all information available, DPAA assessed the individual's case to be in the analytical category of Active Pursuit.
If you are a family member of this service member, DPAA can provide you with additional information and analysis of your case. Please contact your casualty office representative.4