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| USAAF 5th AF 360th SrG 360th Service Group FEAF CRTC |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Richard J Weitzel, O-768339 (MIA / KIA, BR) MN Student Pilot 2nd Lt. Richard Woodruff, O-708779 (MIA / KIA, BR) Plainfield, NJ Crashed January 9, 1945 MACR 12539 Aircraft History Built by Vultee Aircraft Corporation as model 54. Constructors Number 79-276. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as BT-13B Valiant serial number 42-89657. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 360th Service Group (360th SrG) of the Far East Air Force - Combat Replacement & Training Center (FEAF - CRTC) at Nadzab Airfield. No known nickname or nose art. Plane number "612". When lost, engine R-985-AN-1 serial number 41-5038. No armament was aboard this aircraft. Mission History On January 9, 1945 at 9:05am took off from Nadzab Airfield No. 4 piloted by 2nd Lt. Richard J Weitzel with student pilot 2nd Lt. Richard Woodruff on a local instrument training flight. At 9:00am the weather was reported at Nadzab as overcast high clouds and scattered low clouds 3/10 at 3,000' with ceiling unlimited with 12 mile visibility and surface wind to the southwest at 13 mph. This aircraft was last seen on take off. When this aircraft failed to return, it was declared Missing In Action (MIA) by 12:00pm. Search The same day, this aircraft was reported missing at 12:00pm and the search efforts were directed by 1st Lt. Don E. Taylor. By 12:30pm that same day, six BT-13s were sent to search flying a systematic search pattern flying in line abreast from Lae to Gusap covering the entire Ramu Valley. Meanwhile, eight P-38s and four P-47s searched the surrounding mountains from Dumpu to past Lae. There were nil sightings from these searches. On January 10, 1945 a single L-5 plus six BT-13s and four B-25s performed more section searches from 7:00am until 11:30am and from 12:30pm until 5:00pm. These searches covered an area of roughly 100 mile radius. There were nil sightings from these searches. On January 11, 1945 the six B-13s again searched the entire day over places of opportunity. During this same period, all aircraft departing Nadzab were instructed to search enroute without results. None of these searches had any sightings. Wreckage Afterwards, the crash site was found with the remains of both crew inside. Recovery of Remains The remains of both crew were recovered. Postwar, they were transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials Both were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Weitzel is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in section C block 13962. Woodruff is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, NJ. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Richard J Weitzel USAF Serial Number Search Results - BT-13B Valiant 42-89657 "89657 lost Jan 9, 1945, SW Pacific." Missing Air Crew Report 12539 (MACR 12539) created January 25, 1945 January 1945 USAAF Overseas Accident Reports - BT-13B Valiant 42-89657 / 301 ADS / 8 SrG FindAGrave - 2LT Richard J Weitzel (grave photo) FindAGrave - Richard Woodruff (grave) Wreckchasing Message Board - BT-13B Found? by AnthonyMireles posted December 22, 2007 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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