1st Lt. Charles E. Bateson, III
U.S. Army Air Force, 5th Air Force, 6th PRG, 8th PRS
P-38H Lightning 42- MIA October 8, 1943

Background
Charles E. Bateson, III was born at January 14, 1916 in Rye, NY. He worked as a salesman in the textile industry.

Wartime History
On March 30, 1937 enlisted in the U.S. Army and assigned to Squadron A, Troop K, 101st Cavalry in New York, NY. On April 23, 1941 enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) as an aviation cadet with serial number 12027545. On June 20, 1941 became a member of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) and completed flight training earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-432230. Sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).

Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 8th Fighter Group, 80th Fighter Squadron "Headhunters" as a fighter pilot and served in Milne Bay. Afterwards, transferred to the 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group (6th PRG), 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (8th PRS) flying the P-38 Lightning escorting F-4 Lightnings on photographic reconassiance missions.

Mission History
On October 8, 1943 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Charles E. Bateson, III on a mission to escort F-4 Lightning piloted by Lt. Horatio L. Holton over the Madang area. This P-38 was last seen over the Madang area and failed to return. Possibly, his last radio message was at 3:20pm when a ground station recorded "Bandits 5. Let's get them." This message was not heard by aircraft in the flight. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
Bateson was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. Bateson is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records Charles E. Bateson Trd
Missing Air Crew Report 794 (MACR 794)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles E. Bateson III
FindAGrave - 1Lt Charles Edward Wagstaffe Bateson, III (obituary, tablets of the missing photo)
The Eight Ballers: Eyes of the Fifth Air Force (1999) by Stanaway and Rocker pages 84 (September 21, 1943), 85 (September 28, 1943... October 4, 1943), 86 (October 7-8, 1943), 95 (photo), 160 (MIA)
(Page 86) "October 7... Blum, (Photo) Bateson, and Jones give it a go today, but again the weather was too poor to flub around in, and the boys came home unhappy."
October 8... Ludtke and Holton lost sight of Bateson somewhere in the Madang area, and the last message received over the interphone from Bateson was, "Bandits at five o'clock. Let's get 'em." Evi- dently Bateson had seen the Japs and was maneuvering for an at- tack when the other pilots lost contact with him. We have no word from Lt. Bateson, but we have every hope that he got himself a couple of little bastards and will come walking in one of these days. Although relatively new and unknown to the Squadron, Charlie was a veteran fighter pilot of this theatre with over 90 combat mis- sions in 39s and 38s. Our association with him in the few weeks he was with the Squadron proved him to be an excellent pilot and a hell of a good felow. Our thoughts and hopes are for him and safe return."

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