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| USAAF 10th AF 80th FG 459th FS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Burdett C. Goodrich, O-750504 (POW, died in captivity, BR) Lewis County, MT Crashed June 6, 1944 at 7:57am MACR 5378 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 1512. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-5-LO Lighting serial number 42-67001. Disassembled and shipped overseas to China Burma India (CBI) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 10th Air Force (10th AF), 80th Fighter Group (80th FG), 459th Fighter Squadron (459th FS). When lost, engine V-1710-91 serial number 42-94774 and V-1710-89 serial number 42-31029. Weapon serial numbers: .50 caliber machine guns serial numbers 378342, 377455, 376796, 376810 and Oldsmobile 20mm cannon serial number 52367. Mission History On June 6, 1944 took off from Chittagong Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Burdett C. Goodrich as one of seven P-38s on a fighter sweep and strafing mission against Meiktila in Burma. The formation was led by led by Captain William "B-Foot" Broadfoot, executive officer of the squadron. Weather was ceiling and visibility unlimited (CAVU) on the Burma side of the Chin Mountains. Approaching the target, the formation was intercepted from above by Oscars and Zeros [sic]. Without enough fuel to dog fight, the P-38s attempted to shake off the attackers and return to base. During the dogfight, this P-38 was damaged that required his right engine to be feathered. The left engine was damaged and only producing limited power. Goodrich managed to restart the right engine then over the Irrawaddy River at 8,000' then he suddenly entered a steep dive with 2nd Lt. William G. Baumeister, Jr. following, before leveling off at 3,000' and again feathered the right engine. Goodrich called over the radio that his left engine was failing and that he would force land. This P-38 successfully force landed with the flaps down at approximately 85mph skidding across a dry riverbed then impacting a row of trees on the west bank, badly damaging the aircraft but the cockpit section remained intact. Goodrich to force landed at 7:57am roughly one mile due west of Pyinchaung at roughly Lat 94° 35' E, Long 21° 24' N behind enemy lines in Burma. His landing and aircraft were observed by fellow pilots 1st Lt. Henry R. Mahler and 2nd Lt. William G. Baumeister, Jr., who circled the crash site but did not see any sign of the pilot until he was low on fuel then returned to base. When this aircrat failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was P-38J "Miss V" 42-67626 (MIA). Search After the mission, a pair of P-38s piloted by 2nd Lt. James L. King and Lt. William M. Hehrns took off on a mission to strafe this aircraft, then searched for Captain Walter F. Duke. Fate of the Pilot In fact, Goodrich survived the crash landing. He was captured by the Japanese and became a Prisoner Of War (POW) then was transported to Rangoon and detained at Rangoon Prison (Rangoon Central Jail). Due to neglect including beriberi, dysentery, and malnutrition he died on February 24, 1945 and was buried at in the Rangoon Cantonment Cemetery. Recovery of Remains Postwar, Goodrich's remains were recovered from the Rangoon Cantonment Cemetery and transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials Goodrich was officially declared dead on February 27, 1945. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After his remains were recovered, Goodrich was buried at Colfax Cemetery in Colfax, WA at block 3, lot 8, SW 1/4, grave 1. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Burdett C. Goodrich Missing Air Crew Report 5378 (MACR 5378) created June 7, 1944 NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Burdett C. Goodrich American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Burdett C. Goodrich FindAGrave - 1LT Burdett Clark Goodrich (photo, Colfax Cemetery 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
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 P-38  POW 1 Prisoner |
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