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Chronology

P-51D-20-NA Mustang Serial Number 44-63357

USAAF
5th AF
8th Service Group
301st Airdrome Squadron
FEAF - CRTC

Pilot 2nd Lt. Werner K. Neitzke (survived) MI
Crashed April 24, 1945
MACR none

Aircraft History
Built by North American Aircraft (NAA) in Inglewood. Constructors Number 122-31083. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-51D-20-NA Mustang serial number 44-63357. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 8th Service Group (8 SrG), 301st Airdrome Squadron (301st ADS) part of the Far East Air Force - Combat Replacement Training Center (FEAF - CRTC) at Nadzab Airfield. No known nose art or nickname.

Mission History
On April 24, 1945 took off from Nadzab Airfield No. 1 on a training mission. This aircraft suffered a landing accident at Nadzab Airfield No. 1.

Memorials
Neitzke passed away on August 9, 1971 due to colon cancer. He is buried at Oakwood Cemetery in Saginaw, MI at plot 90-12.

References
AAIR April 1945 USAAF Overseas Accident Reports - P-51D 44-63357 pilot Neitzke
FindAGrave - Werner K. Neitzke (grave photo)

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Last Updated
October 24, 2024

P-51

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