|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USN CASU-7 |
Pilot Ensign Matthew Richard McFarland (MIA / KIA, BR) Cleveland, OH Passenger Lt. Jessie Raymond Battenfield (MIA / KIA, BR Crashed February 15, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 4977. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-5 Dauntless bureau number 36338. Wartime History Assigned to Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 7 (CASU-7). No known nose art, nickname or markings. Mission History On February 15, 1945 took off from the NAS Seattle piloted by Ensign Matthew Richard McFarland with passenger Lt. Jessie Raymond Battenfield on a training mission. When this aircraft failed to return it was reported as missing. In fact, this aircraft crashed on the south slope of Three Queens Mountain in Washington State. Possibly, the crew survived the crash but died from wounds or exposure. Search During a late September 1945 an aerial search for a missing Beach 18 and this aircraft, resulted in the wreckage of this aircraft being spotted from the air. A civilian and military team trekked to the crash site and buried the remains of both crew at the crash site. Recovery of Remains After the crash site was visited, the remains of both crew were buried near the crash site. The graves were marked by two crosses made of stainless steel inscribed with their names. Wreckage This crash site in the Wenatchee National Forest in the Cascade Mountains in Washington State and was was well known to hikers in the area. During the 1970s, the crash site was salvaged by a private citizen with permission from the U.S. Navy for use for a restoration project. One wing was salvaged and half of the other wing. The engine was partially crated but never removed. The salvager did not disturb the graves. During the early 2000's someone made a complaint to the US Navy that the crew were still buried at the crash site and should be a proper burial. Cy Laramie went to the Washington State Health Department and found the death certificates of both men which listed the lat / long of the crash site and visited the crash site in 2005. Recovery of Remains During late August 2004, this crash site was the focus of a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) investigation. In the middle of July 2005, a JPAC recovery team deployed in mid July 2005 to preform a complete recovery of the remains of the crew, plus P-38E Lightning 41-2276 crash site in Washington State. This was the first military joint field activity in the continental United States since 1996. Memorials Both crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. The flight was non-combat and neither earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. McFarland was buried September 29, 2009 at Arlington National Cemetery at section 25 site 3910-5. Battenfield has no known burial presumably in his hometown in the United States. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-5 Dauntless 36338 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List February 1945 - SBD-5 Dauntless 36338 Arlington National Cemetery ANC Explorer - Matthew R. McFarland (Arlington grave photos) FindAGrave - Matthew R McFarland (Arlington grave) Thanks to Cy Laramie, Ted Darcy and Phillip Fazzini 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 November 26, 2024 |
 SBD
|
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
