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| USN USS Lexington (CV-16) VF-20  USN 1945 |
Pilot Lt. Alexander Vraciu (survived) East Chicago, IL Crashed December 14, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Grumman as model G-50 in Bethpage, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F6F-5 Hellcat Bureau Number 58831. Wartime History Assigned to USS Lexington (CV-16) to Fighting Squadron 20 (VF-20). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On December 14, 1944 launched from USS Lexington (CV-16) piloted by Lt. Alexander Vraciu on a strike mission against Japanese airfields on Luzon in the Philippines. At about 1:45pm over Bamban Airfield hit by anti-aircraft fire and bailed out at low altitude before the plane crashed. When he failed to return, he was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Fate of the Pilot In fact, Vraciu was quickly found and aided by Filipino guerrillas and taken to Major Alberto Q. Stockton and spent the next five weeks with the guerrillas and was given the honorary rank of Major in their force. After the U.S. Army landing on Luzon, he was taken into American lines and returned with a Japanese pistol and sword as souvenirs. Memorials Vraciu died January 29, 2015 at age 96 in Danville, CA. He is buried at Oakmont Memorial Park in Lafayette, CA. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F6F-5 Hellcat 58831 USN Loss List Summary Sheet - F6F-5 Hellcat 58831 NARA VF-20 War History pages 25-26 (Page 25-26) "The 3 days of strikes on the Clark Field area in December were perhaps the most trying ever experienced by our pilots up to that time. Anti-aircraft batteries of all sizes had been greatly strengthened since the previous strikes and were finding their marks with far greater accuracy. Six fighters were shot down by AA fire on the 14th although 2 of the pilots parachuted safely and were rescued by guerrilla forces. Several other planes were hit but managed to land aboard safely." NARA Aircraft Action Report (ACA) VF-20 No. 129 December 14, 1944 "About 1345, [F6F] 58831, pilot Vraciu, AA at Bamban A/F, evaded" Fighter Pilot: The World War II Career of Alex Vraciu by Ray E. Boomhower Warfare History Network - Alex Vraciu: U.S. Navy Ace, Philippines Guerrilla Late Winter 2014 Los Angeles Times "Alex Vraciu dies at 96; World War II fighter ace" by David Colker February 14, 2015 FindAGrave - Alexander Vraciu (photo, grave photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 19, 2024 |
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