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| USAAF 5th AF 35th FG 39th FS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Herbert E. Schopka, O-816163 (MIA / KIA) Germany MIA February 16, 1945 MACR 13301 Aircraft History Built by Republic in Farmingdale, NY. At the factory, completed with a natural aluminum finish. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-47D-21-RE Thunderbolt serial number 42-25405. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On February 16, 1945 took off from Wama Airfield on Morotai piloted by 1st Lt. Herbert E Schopka on a ferry flight bound for Mangaldan Airfield on Luzon in the Philippines. The weather over Sarangani was a front 100 miles wide with tops at roughly 20,000' with visibility 0-1 miles. Presumed lost between Talaud Island and Sarangani Island. When this plane failed to arrive it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search Afterwards, all bases in the Philippines were queried about this plane and pilot and none reported anything. 5th Emergency Rescue Group was notified and notified 13th Air Force Rescue Section but no information was receieved. Memorials Schopka earned the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster. As he was lost on a non-combat flight, he did not earn the Purple Heart, posthumously. Schopka is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Breslau Cemetery in North Lindenhurst, NY. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Herbert E. Schopka USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-47D-21-RE Thunderbolt 42-25405 "25405 (39th FS, 35th FG, 5th AF) lost from unknown cause between Talaud Island, Indoneaia and Sarangani Mindanao, Philippines while on ferry flight Feb 16, 1945. MACR 13301. Pilot missing and fate unknown." Missing Air Crew Report 13301 (MACR 13301) created February 25, 1945 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Herbert E Schopka FindAGrave - 1Lt Herbert E Schopka (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Herbert Schopka (memorial marker photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated August 12, 2026 |
 P-47  MIA 1 Missing  Map February 16, 1945 |
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