2nd Lt. Claude M. Loe, Jr.
U.S. Army Air Force, 5th Air Force, 475th Fighter Group, 431st Fighter Squadron

Background
Claude Milton Loe, Jr. was born November 13, 1921 to parents Claude M. Loe and Mrs. Loe in Plainview, Texas. Nicknamed "Tex". Later, his family moved to 223 E Street in Oxnard, California. He attended Oxnard Union High School and played football and enrolled at Ventura Junior College and completed one year of studies. In 1940. On February 14, 1942 he registered for the draft and was employed by Bank of America in Ventura, California.

Wartime History
On August 13, 1942 at age 20 he enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as a private with serial number 19092724. He was selected as an aviation cadet and underwent basic flight training. Next, he completed advanced flying school at Williams Field in Arizona. He earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-760340.

Later, sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS) "Hades" as a P-38 Lightning as a replacement pilot. Loe had no aerial victory credits.

During July 1944, Loe went on leave in Australia. His last known location was Townsville where he was to fly as a passenger aboard any available transport plane back to his squadron. By the middle of the month, 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS) "Hades" had moved from Hollandia to Mokmer Drome on Biak Island.

Mission History
On July 28, 1944 at 8:44am took off from Nadzab Airfield No. 3 as a passenger aboard B-25D Mitchell 42-87287 on a courier flight bound for Mokmer Drome on Biak Island. Aboard were passengers including an unmanifested passenger 2nd Lt. Claude M. Loe, Jr. The weather was scattered clouds en route and rain showers. This B-25 was last seen after take off. When this aircraft failed to arrive it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Officially, the plane was written off October 2, 1944.

Recovery of Remains
Postwar, American Graves Registration Service (AGRS), 5A Detachment based at Hollandia recovered remains with identification details for 1st Lt. Edward F. Leidenberg. At the time, he was believed to be an unmanifested passenger aboard B-25D Mitchell 42-87287 on a courier flight from Nadzab Airfield No. 3 bound for Mokmer Drome on Biak Island.

Afterwards, the recovered remains were transported to the AGRS Mausoleum at Fort William McKinley (Manila American Cemetery) and designated as unknowns (X-Files) X-4212B, X-4213-A, B, C, X-4214-A, B and stored in Hanger 810, Bay X,crypt 5893 and 5951 and stored in Hanger 810, Bay X in crypts 5893 and 5951. Later, redesignated 810-X-5893, 5961, 812-A-301, 812-E-1474, 1553 and 812-F-1687. The entire crew and passengers were identified primarily on circumstantial evidience based on the only individual identification made for passenger 1st Lt. Edward F. Leidenberg. The report to the anthropologist reveals that fragments of six remains were recovered to represent the other twn unidentified men aboard the plane. By January 1951, the remains were casketed and transported to the United States for permanent burial.

Memorials
Loe was officially declared dead July 28, 1944. Postwar, his remains were recovered and transported to the United States for permanent burial. On April 18, 1951 buried in a group burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 84 sites 42-44. The group burial in includes Spriggs, Bradley, Poland, Abernathy, Robertson, Williams, Green, Trammell, D'Alessandro and Loe.

Awards
Loe earned the Air Medal.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Claude M. Loe, Jr.
Missing Air Crew Report 7012 (MACR 7012) created August 2, 1944
Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Claude M. Loe, Jr. PDF pages 58
(PDF page 58) "Subject: Review of Circumstances Surrounding the Disappearance of Personnel Presumed Dead" 16 Decemer 1947
"2. Missing Air Crew Report 7012, dated 2 August 1944... A message later received from Brisbane (Casualty Branch No. 060023) reported that Lieutenants Leidenberg and Loe were also passengers aboard the aircraft piloted by Lieutenant Springs."
The Los Angeles Times "Sixty-three Win Commissions in Air Force" December 11, 1943 page 11
Ventura County Star "In The Fight Against The Axis - Lt. Claude Loe Wins Air Medal" October 25, 1944 page 1
Oxnard Press-Courier "Gold Star Mothers Attend LA Meeting" May 3, 1946 page 3
Oxnard Press-Courier "Gen. Spaatz Praises Pilot Declared Dead" July 13, 1946 page 3
"Lt. Loe has been declared dead after having been missing in action in the Pacific since July 28, 1944."
FindAGrave - Claude M Loe, Jr (photo, group burial photos)
"His mother sent flowers every year but never was able to make the trip to see his grave."
475th Fighter Group Historical Foundation - 431st Hades Fighter Squadron Second Lieutenants, Claude M Loe Jr.
Possum, Clover & Hades 475th Fighter Group in World War II (2004) does not mention Loe in the narrative or Appendix B 475th Fighter Group Losses
Lightning Strikes (1988) does not mention Loe's loss in the narrative, page 151 (475th FG, 431st FS roster, 2nd Lt Claude M. Loe)

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