Major Jack B. Rittmayer
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF)
P-38 pilot Missing In Action (MIA) January 7, 1945
Background
Jack Ball Rittmayer was born on March 30, 1919 to parents Walter G. "Hop" Rittmayer and Ethel Ball Rittmayer in Meeker, Colorado. At an early age, the family moved to Long Beach, California.
Wartime History
 Rittmayer was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) as a midshipman. On February 4, 1941, he resigned as a 3rd year midshipman. On April 19, 1941 enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) at Fort Sam Houston as an aviation cadet with serial number 18049440. He attended flight school, earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-432009. Later, promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant then Captain and Major. 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 pilot.
On November 12, 1944 took off on a mission over Cebu.
On December 7, 1944 took off on a mission over Ormoc Bay and claimed three aerial victories.
On December 17, 1944 took off as part of "Daddy Flight" as wingman for P-38L pilot Major Richard I. Bong on a fighter sweep bound for Mindoro. Over the target, the pair intercepted a pair of Oscars. Bong claimed one and Rittmayer claimed the other.
Aerial Victory Claims
Rittmayer was officially credited with four aerial victories between December 7, 1944 to December 17, 1944.
Mission History
On January 7, 1945 took off at 6:20am from Dulag Airfield on Leyte piloting P-38J 43-28836 as part of "Daddy Flight" on a fighter sweep bound for Mindoro in hopes of finding Japanese aircraft to shoot down and add to McGuire's aerial victory credits.
The four Lightnings flew in a "four finger formation" with P-38L "Eileen-Ann" 44-24845 piloted by Major
Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. the flight leader in the no. 1 position. The flight wingman in the no. 2 position was this aircraft piloted by Major Jack B. Rittmayer. The element leader in the no. 3 position was P-38L "Doots" 44-24876 piloted by Captain Edwin R. Weaver. The element wingman in the no. 4 position was P-38J "Miss Gee Gee" 43-28525 piloted by 2nd Lt. Douglas S. Thropp, Jr.
The weather was overcast with stratus layers from 1,500' to 6,000'. As the formation flew over northwestern Negros at an altitude of roughly 2,000', they turned over Fabrica
Airfield,
but did not spot any Japanese planes on the ground or in the air.
Next, they proceeded to Caroline Airfield where they spotted Ki-43 Oscar pilot WO
Sugimoto from the 54th Hiko Sentai (54th Flying Regiment) who had taken off from Fabrica Airfield on a patrol north of Negros then southward to the Guimaras Strait to report the presence of any American ships he might encounter.
Before intercepting, McGuire told his flight to "hold your tanks" (not release their drop tanks) took retain fuel in anticipation of flying further to engage in more combat. With their drop tanks still attached, the P-38s were slower and less maneuverable. During the dogfight with the Oscar, P-38L "Eileen-Ann" 44-24845 piloted by Major
Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. crashed around 7:10am.
After McGuire's loss, Major Rittmayer took the lead and the three P-38s chased Ki-43 Oscar piloted Sugimoto. Thropp managed to fire a burst at it that caused damage before it escaped into clouds. Damaged, Sugimoto force landed but was shot by Filipino guerrillas when he did not surrender to them. Although none of the P-38 pilots observed McGuire's crash, after disengaging from the combat, they saw a fire on the ground roughly one mile northeast of Pinansmaan.
Next, Ki-84 Frank pilot Sgt Fukuda from 71st Hiko Sentai (71st Flying Regiment) joined the engagement. Earlier, he had taken off from Carolina Airfield (Manapla) armed with a 150kg bomb on a patrol to the west of Bacolod to report the presence of any American ships. When Fukuda arrived, he saw a crashed aircraft burning [McGuire's crash] then made a head on pass against Rittmayer and shot him down. Afterwards, he was fired on by Weaver and damaged. He managed to fire on Thropp but was again hit by Weaver and his engine began loosing power. Pulling up into the clouds to disengage, Fukuda landed Carolina Airfield (Manapla) and while landing one of his gear collapsed causing his damaged plane to flip over and was injured in the crash landing.
Statement by 2nd Lt. Douglas S. Thropp, Jr. via Missing Air Crew Report 11646 (MACR 11646) page 4
"I last saw Major
Rittmayer at an altitude of less than 2000 feet receiving hits from an enemy plane firing form 90° deflection. Later I saw a second fire on the ground in the vicinity, presumably that of his plane."
Search
Afterwards, no search was made for
Rittmayer.
Recovery of Remains
Postwar, the remains of Rittmayer were recovered and transported to Manila to the American Graves Registration Service Mausoleum (AGRS Mausoleum) then shipped to the United States for permanent burial.
Memorials
Rittmayer was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA at Harmony, Lot 2827, Space 2.
Relatives
Mrs. Rittmayer (wife)
Ethel Ball Rittmayer (mother)
References
World War II Army Enlistment Records - Jack B. Rittmayer
Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)
- Jack B. Rittmayer
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Rittmayer, Jack B. page 161 (PDF page 168)
Missing Air Crew Report 11646 (MACR 11646) created January 8, 1945
Individual Combat Report (ICR) Captain Edwin R. Weaver January 7, 1945
Individual Combat Report (ICR) 2nd Lt. Douglas S. Thropp, Jr. January 7, 1945
Air Force Journal "Death of a Great Flyer"
April 1945
Dick Bong Ace of Aces (1960) by George C. Kenney
"...Over Negros Island, they finally sighted a lone Jap fighter that had just lifted off the runway and was flying at about two hundred feet. McGuire led his fight to the attack (but neglected to jettison his wing fuel tanks, severely impacting the maneuverability of his P-38). The Nip turned sharply to the left and quickly maneuvered into position on Rittmayer's tail."
The
Last Great Ace (1999) by Charles A. Martin
McGuire's Last Mission by Carroll R. Anderson
"What Really Happened to McGuire?" by David Mason with introduction by Michael Claringbould via Wayback Machine January 27, 2012
The Search For The Crash Site
of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. by David Mason, 2000
McGuire Final Report: Investigation into the final combat mission of Major Thomas B. McGuire, Jr. (2009) by David J. Mason pages 51-52 (XXX. The Search For Major Rittmayer's Crash Site)
FindAGrave - Maj Jack Ball Rittmayer (grave photo)
Thanks to David Mason for additional information
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