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| USAAF 5th AF 35th FG 41st FS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Dewey W. Foster, O-754610 (MIA / KIA, BR) Cleveland County, OK Crashed April 11, 1944 at 9:50am MACR 4360 Aircraft History Built by Republic at the Indiana Division of Republic Aviation in Evansville, IN. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-47D-4-RA Thunderbolt serial number 42-22709. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 41st Fighter Squadron (41st FS). No known nickname, nose art or squadron number. When lost, engine R-2800-21 serial number 42-125368. Armed with eight .50 caliber machine guns, makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On April 11, 1944 took off from Gusap Airfield (No. 5) piloted by 2nd Lt. Dewey W. Foster on an escort mission over Hansa Bay. The weather was reported as good, ceiling unlimited, visibility unlimited with scattered clouds at 3,000'. This plane was last seen roughly 20 miles northwest of Dumpu and 30 miles off Madang by P-47D Thunderbolt pilot 1st Lt. Wayne P. Rothgeb who witnessed Foster pull up onto his wing, then made a gentle turn back towards base. Foster made no radio contact and his plane appeared to be in good condition. When this aircraft failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA) at roughly Lat 5.10 S Long 145.46 E. Search Three separate search missions were flown. On April 12, 1944 three P-47s led by Captain Anderson took off from Gusap at 11:47 and searched the area 60 miles north of Atemble and 35 miles east and 35 miles west of the Ramu River, with nil sightings then landed at 1:30pm. Later in the afternoon, P-47D piloted by Captain Cella took off and searched 50 miles west of Gusap and did "S" turns, but did not see anything. On April 13, 1944 at 8:20 two P-47s led by Captain Tansing searched the Bismarck Ranges unsuccessfully then landed at 10:30. Wreckage This aircraft crashed roughly 20 miles northwest of Dumpu. Since the later 1940s, the crash site was known. During August 14-20, 2010 a recovery team from Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) led by Kristen Baker conducted a recovery at the crash site and recovered the remains of the pilot. His remains were officially identified on Novemeber 2, 2010. Memorials Foster was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Foster is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After the recovery and identification of his remains, a rosette was added next to his name indicating he was accounted for. Foster had a memorial marker at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery section MA, site 50. After his remains were identified, he was buried at section AD, site 265. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Dewey W. Foster NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File does not list Foster as an official POW (POW) of the Japanese. USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-47D-4-RA Thunderbolt 42-22709 Missing Air Crew Report 4360 (MACR 4360) created April 13, 1944 National Archives of Australia (NAA) "Thunderbolt - U.S Missing Aircraft, page 2 of 33 (NAA: A9845, 302 "Thunderbolt P47D 42-22709 / Madang N.G. / Date 11/4/44 / Crew: Foster, Dewey W. 2nd Lt. O-754610 Engine: R-2800-21 A.A.F. serial no. 42-125368. Departed Gusap on escort mission to Hansa Bay. Was last sighted 20 miles N.W. of Dumpu. Squadron Leader Rundle was advised, during his visit to Manila, that this member was one of the men captured at Nobnob [sic P-38 pilot, unknown] and Efu [P-38J 42-104355 pilot 2nd Lt. Milton A. MacDonald] and executed at Amron." RAAF Survey of Aircraft Wreckage, Papua New Guinea page 9 "#323 | 05.10-145.46 | Nobonob [sic]| USAC Thunderbolt P-47D 42-22709 | Wreckage located in this area" Port Moresby Tower Log - P-47D 42-22709 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-47D Thunderbolt 42-22709 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) Dewey W. Foster "His remains have been recovered and identified on November 29, 2010." FindAGrave - Dewey W Foster (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 May 5, 2025
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 P-47  MIA 1 Missing Resolved  Map April 11, 1944 |
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