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| USAAF 20th AF 506th FG 458th FS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Paul I. Ewalt, O-697016 (MIA / KIA, BR) IL Crashed August 3, 1945 at 12:00pm MACR 14816 Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA) in Inglewood. Constructors Number 39150. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-51D-25-NA Mustang serial number 44-73369. Disassembled and shipped overseas to India and reassembled. Wartime History This aircraft was assigned to the 20th Air Force, 506th Fighter Group (506th FG), 458th Fighter Squadron (458th FS), attached to 7th Fighter Command "Sun Setters", 301st Fighter Wing. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engine V-1650-7 serial number V-333156. Armed with .50 caliber M2 machine guns serial numbers R1-1287513, R2-1751125, R3-1287663 L1-1751174, L2-1790352 and L3-1790214. Mission History On August 3, 1945 took off from North Field (APO 86) on Iwo Jima piloted by 1st Lt. Paul I Ewalt on a Very Long Range (VLR) fighter sweep over Kumagya against targets in Japan. This aircraft was part of "Red Flight led by Captain Marcott and was flying in the no. 4 position as the wingman for 1st Lt. Max E. Ruble in the no. 3 position. The weather was 3/10 cumulus clouds with a base at 2,000' with visibility of 30 miles. Over the target, hit by anti-aircraft fire and observed to be streaming white smoke and pulled up to 2,000' then bailed out at the northern edge of Sagami Bay at roughly Lat 35° 18' N Long 139° 18' E. After bailing out, his P-51 crashed into Sagami Bay and the pilot in his parachute was observed drifting down over land near Oiso. Prior to bailing out, there was no radio contact with Ewalt. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Recovery of Remains Ewalt's body and parachute washed ashore and was found by the Japanese. Postwar, his remains were recovered and transported to Hawaii for burial. Memorials Ewalt was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section F, site 663. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-51D-25-NA Mustang 44-73369 "73369 (458th FS, 506th FG) shot down by AAA and crashed in water at Sagami Bay, Japan Aug 3, 1945. MACR 14816. Pilot bailed out but was killed." Missing Air Crew Report 14816 (MACR 14816) created August 4, 1945 FindAGrave - Lieut Paul I Ewalt (grave photo) The Resue of Ed Mikes (2019) by Henry Sakaida and Donna Mikes Musil Thanks to Henry Sakaida and Donna Mikes Musil for additional information 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-51  Map August 3, 1945 |
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