1st Lt. Billy Ray Ramsey
U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 236 (VMSB-236)
SBD-5 Dauntless 35971 pilot Missing In Action (MIA) January 14, 1944

Background
Billy Ray Ramsey was born April 27, 1920 to parents George Warren Ramsey Bertha Boswell Ramsey in Eastland, Texas. He attended Breckenridge High School class of 1938 and played on the school's football team and freshman year played fullback and later became the team quarter back in 1937 and 1938 made the All-State football team. Next, he enrolled in Texas Christian University (TCU) and continued to play football and won two letters and played in the Orange Bowl between TCU and an University of Oregon. On July 3, 1941 he registered for the U.S. draft.

Wartime History
Ramsey enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reseve (USMCR) and was trained as a a pilot. On October 30, 1942 he earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant then sent overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Assigned to Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 236 (VMSB-236) and participated in two tours of duty before he was lost. He also served as the squadron recreation and athletic officer.

Mission History
On January 14, 1944 took off from Munda Airfield on New Georgia piloting SBD-5 Dauntless 35971 with gunner Sgt Charlie J. Sciara on a dive bombing mission led by Major McDaniel against Japanese shipping off Rabaul. The formation included 36 SBD Dauntless from VMSB-236 and VMSB-341, 18 TBF Avengers escorted by 73 fighters. This was the first full scale attack by land based light bombers against Japanese shipping in the vicinity of Rabaul.

The strike was credited with 9 direct hits on 7 transports and a direct hit on a possible light cruiser and possible destroyer. Also, 20 near misses that likely caused damage. It was estimated that 5 of the 7 transports were sunk. The U.S. planes encountered intense anti-aircraft fire of all calibers and were intercepted by successive waves of fighters including what was claimed to be Zekes, Hamps and Tonys.

Approaching the target area, this SBD had the tail shot off by anti-aircraft fire. When the tail broke off, this SBD was last seen in a flat spin over Saint Georges Channel (St. Georges Channel) northeast of Rabaul. When this aircraft failed to return, this aircraft was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was SBD-5 Dauntless 36230 (pilot MIA / gunner POW, died).

Search
Afterwards, a PBY Catalina unsuccessfully searched for the air crews lost on this mission.

Fates of the Crew
Pilot 1st Lt. Billy Ray Ramsey died in the crash and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Postwar, remains recovered from the Australian War Cemetery near Rabaul were turned over to American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) at Finschafen and designated Unknown X-112 (X-File 112) and Unknown X-37 (X-File 37). How and where the remains were recovered was unknown. The U.S. Army deemed these two sets of remains not to be associated with Ramsey or Sciara, rather they continued to be designated as unknowns. Both Ramsey or Sciara remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
Ramsey was officially declared dead on January 15, 1945. He was promoted to Captain and earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

Relative
George W. Ramsey (father)

References
U.S. Draft Registration Card - Billy Ray Ramsey, July 3, 1941
USMC Casualty Card - Billy Ray Ramsey
"History: 14 Jan 44 Missing in action over Cape Gazelle New Britain. Airmailgram for COMPORON 40, NCR#1662, to VCNO dated 1/29/44 rec'd 1/31/44. 15 Jan 45 Killed in action at Cape Gazelle, New Britain fd death fr OIC CasDiv Est SecNav Acc PL#490 dated 15 Jan 45 rec'd CasDiv 18 Jun 45. 015013"
Director of Memorial Division, Office of the Quartermaster General, U.S. Army Lieutenant Waite (MCS), USN "Identification of unknowns" November 9, 1948 pages 1-2
(Page 2) "In connection with the foregoing, this office has received an unofficial report (originating with the former Japanese Naval Commander at Rabaul at the time of capitulation and based on memoranda [sic memorandum] and the memory of the prison guards since the official records were destroyed in the bombings of [Rabaul] February, March and April 1944) indicating that Sgt. SCIARA probably survived the crash of his plane and was interned in one of the Rabaul POW camps where he died of and beri-beri on 24 February 1944 [sic February 22, 1944]. No such report has ever been received in the case case of Lt. Billy R. Ramsey."
Oakland Tribune "Five Bay Area Men in Casualty List" February 16, 1944
"Lieut. Billy R. Ramsey, USMC Reserve, son of G. W. Ramsey of 721 McLaughlin Street, Richmond, was listed as missing."
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Billy Ray Ramsey
FindAGrave - Capt Billy Ray Ramsey (photo, tablets of the missing photo)
Missing Marines - Billy Ray Ramsey (photos, biography)
Daily Mail - Exclusive Missing WWII US Marines plane found 80 years after vanishing during daring divebombing mission against Japanese forces: Human remains are discovered alongside wreck in Papua New Guinea jungle by Josie Adnitt and Keith Griffith March 2, 2024 (photo gallery)
New York Post "Wreckage of WWII plane that vanished found in South Pacific after 80 years" March 2, 2024
South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 521-522 (January 14, 1944)
Thanks to John Sciara for additional information

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