1st Lt. William A. Levitan
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS)
P-38 Lightning Pilot Missing In Action (MIA)

Background
William A. Levitan was born 24 Aug 1920 to parents John M Levitan and Rachel Ruth Rosen Levitan in Boston, Massachusetts. Nicknamed "Bill".

Wartime History
Levitan enlisted in 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-427754. After the start of the Pacific War, sent overseas and was a fighter pilot in the Java campaign, Darwin campaign and New Guinea campaign.

On December 7, 1942 Levitan was piloting a P-40 Warhawk on a fighter sweep over Buna intercepting Zeros and Vals. Element leader Levitan attacked the bombers, his P-40 went into a spin into clouds then flew back to 30 Mile Drome near Port Moresby.

On December 26, 1942 Levitan was piloting a P-40 Warhawk on fighter sweep over Buna. Over the target, Levitan claimed a "Zeke" [sic Ki-43 Oscar from the 11th Sentai] over Buna. He earned the Air Medal.

Mission History
On March 2, 1943 took off from either Garbutt Field or Horn Island Airfield piloting P-38 Lightning on a ferry flight bound for 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) near Port Moresby. Accompanying a B-17 Flying Fortress, after crossing the Cape York Peninsula, the formation entered a rain storm and was never seen again. This P-38 was presumed lost at sea over the Coral Sea or off the southern coast of New Guinea. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
Levitan was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

References
Protect & Avenge: The 49th Fighter Group in World War II (1995) pages 97, 100, 119 lists the loss as March 3, 1943
Every Day A Nightmare: American Pursuit Pilots in the Defense of Java, 1941-1942 (2010) pages 254, 483 footnote 71
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William A. Levitan
FindAGrave - 1Lt William A Levitan (photo, tablets of the missing)

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