Far East Air Force - Combat Replacement and Training Center
(FEAF-CRTC)
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF)

Background
The Far East Air Force - Combat Replacement and Training Center (FEAF-CRTC) was part of the 5th Air Force (5th AF) in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). The FEAF-CRTC was responsible for the training of replacement pilots and air crews before they were assigned to squadrons, but did fly combat missions against bypassed Japanese garrisons in New Guinea and did suffer combat losses due to anti-aircraft fire, mechanical failures and weather. During late 1944, the CRTC (Combat Replacement Training Center) sometimes also listed as simply CR&TC operated from Nadzab No. 4 Airfield (APO 713-1). On October 16, 1944 redesignated the 360th Air Service Group (360th SrG), Far East Air Force Combat Replacement and Training Center (CRTC or CR&TC or FEAF - CRTC).

360th Air Service Group (360th Service Group, 360th SrG)
Headquarters & Base Service Squadron
Student Detachment Headquarters & Base Service Squadron
14th Tow Target Squadron
63rd Malaria Control Unit
1947th Engineer Aviation Utilities Company
572nd Army Air Forces Band
2nd Central Medical Establishment (SP)
5241st Military Police (MP) Company (Aviation) (P)
5297th FEAF Chemical Training Company (P)
Student Detachment (Stu Det)

8th Service Group (8th SrG)
Headquarters Squadron
1041st Signal Company Service Group
1794th Ordinance S&M Company (Aviation)
1811th Ordinance S&M Company (Aviation)
2001st Quartermaster Truck Company (Aviation)
3075th Quartermaster Truck Company (Aviation)
Under base control: 247th General Hospital
47th Service Squadron
455th Service Squadron
370th Service Squadron
7th Airdrome Squadron (7 ADS)
301st Airdrome Squadron (301st ADS)
1157th Quartermaster Company Service Group
868th Engineer Aviation Battalion (Attached)

Wartime History
The unit operated a variety of aircraft including: BT-13 Valiant, C-47 Dakota, A-20 Havoc, P-70 Havoc, B-25 Mitchell, B-24 Liberator, P-47D Thunderbolt, P-51D Mustang and liaison aircraft. These included both new aircraft formerly assigned to combat units. Many aircraft wee marked with "CRTC".

The Commanding Officer (C. O.) was Colonel John P. "Jock" Henebry, who previously flew 140 combat missions over 32 months of service as the Commanding Officer (C. O.) of the 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG) "Grim Reapers". Then became commander of Nadzab Airfield No. 4 designated APO 713, Unit 1 (APO-713-1) was also the Commanding Officer (C. O.) of the FEAF CRTC. Previously, the commander was Colonel Carl A. Brandt took command from June 29, 1944 until January 26, 1945. formerly he was the Commanding Officer (C. O.) of the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) "Jolly Rogers" and afterwards became the Commanding Officer (C. O.) of 13th Bomber Command (XIII Bomber Command).

In New Guinea, CRTC aircraft and crews flew combat missions over isolated or bypassed Japanese target areas including Wewak and other locations on the north coast of New Guinea and New Britain until June 30, 1945. These missions were to familiarize crews with the area and give them combat experience over neutralized targets. Also, the CRTC sometimes flew searches for missing aircraft.

On November 10, 1944 in the morning, a formation of B-25J Mitchells plus six A-20G Havocs on a low level bombing and strafing mission against Wewak. Shot down by Japanese anti-aircraft fire is B-25J Mitchell pilot Warvel (crew rescued, 1 MIA) and A-20G Havoc 43-21428 pilot 2nd Lt. Grant E. Peterson (3 MIA).

On January 20, 1945 six A-20G Havocs strike Cape Wom west of Wewak. Lost is A-20G Havoc 43-21622 pilot 2nd Lt. Alfred J. Hamwey (MIA).

On April 21, 1945 CRTC aircraft including 46 B-24, 19 B-25s, 16 A-20s and 4 P-47s dropped 200 tons of bombs on the Wirui Mission area near Wewak in support of the Australian Army attacking the area. Afterwards, Australians confirmed heavy loss of life from these raids according to captured prisoners and the discovery of mass graves.

On May 7, 1945 at 2:25pm nine P-38 Lightnings from CRTC mistook Cape Wom (Wom Point) for Wewak (Wewak Point) and bomb and strafe positions hitting the Australian Army 2/1 Field Regiment 25 pounder artillery positions and 19th Brigade Headquarters The attack results in 11 killed and 21 wounded and destroy or damage several 25 pounders. The Australian dead include: 2/1 Field Regiment six killed, their only fatalities during the Wewak Campaign: Bombardier Norman A. Marks, Gunner Roy Seabrook, Gunner William H. Simpkins, Gunner Archibald Walker, Gunner William J. Dight and Sgt Daniel F. Rixon. 2/1 Guard Regiment: Pvt John McVeigh, Private Claude Summers, Private James G. Beresford, Private Leslie J. H. Giles and Private Geoffrey W. Bordoni. The dead were buried with crosses on Cape Wom and later permanently buried at Lae War Cemetery. References: War Diary 19th Australian Infantry Brigade 7 May 1945, War Diary 2/1 Aust Field Regiment 1 May 45 to 31 May 45 pages 10-12, The Final Campaigns by Gavin Long Chapter 14 pages 345-346.

On May 11, 1945 CRTC aircraft supported the Australian Army, 6th Division attacking Wewak attacking specific targets. Afterwards, the Australians acknowledge the accuracy of their attacks.

On June 30, 1945 training flights were suspended as the unit prepared to transfer to Clark Field. At the end of the Pacific War, their remaining aircraft were abandoned at Nadzab Airfield and scrapped postwar.

Losses
Bad weather and accidents resulted in the loss of some aircraft. Also, enemy anti-aircraft fire resulted in the loss of others over target areas. Some pilots and crews are still Missing In Action (MIA) to this day.

8th Service Group (8th SrG)
B-25H 43-4341  pilot Dreger crashed September 2, 1944
A-20G 43-21390  pilot Brooks ditched April 27, 1945 (pilot rescued)

301st Airdrome Squadron (301st Airdrome 301 Service Squadron, 301st ADS)
F-6D 44-14621  pilot Lent crashed December 1, 1944, 1 missing
F-6D 44-14920  pilot McGowan crashed December 19, 1944
P-47D 42-23142  pilot Bevan crashed January 18, 1945
P-47D 42-25407  pilot Orr crashed January 23, 1945
P-47D 43-25475  pilot Zimmermann crashed January 25, 1945
P-51D 44-63290  pilot Muir written off February 4, 1945
P-38J 42-67778  pilot Stephenson crashed February 6, 1945
P-47D 42-23094  pilot Ziegler crashed February 8, 1945
P-38J 42-67169  pilot Whipple crashed February 11, 1945
P-38J 42-67795  pilot Gunn crashed February 13, 1945
P-38J 42-104346  pilot Eddie crashed February 13, 1945
P-51D 44-15225  pilot Singleston crashed February 16, 1945
P-38J 42-68009  pilot Held crashed February 18, 1945
P-47D 42-23168  pilot Mullins crashed February 18, 1945
P-51D 44-63373  pilot Helm crashed February 25, 1945
P-38J 42-104356  pilot Cook crashed March 6, 1945
P-51K 44-12032  pilot Goeller crashed March 8, 1945
P-47D 42-22936  pilot Terrall crashed March 12, 1945
P-47D 42-75945  pilot Johnston crashed March 14, 1945
P-47D 43-25470  pilot Maley crashed March 15, 1945
P-47D 43-25466  pilot Meyn crashed March 15, 1945
P-47D 42-75899  pilot Mayo crashed March 15, 1945
P-47D 42-25411  pilot Chenoweth crashed March 30, 1945
P-47D 42-28209  pilot Peterson crashed March 30, 1945
P-47D 42-75899  pilot Fox crashed March 31, 1945
P-47D 42-75928  pilot Peace crashed March 31, 1945
P-51D 44-63651  pilot Kirby MIA April 14, 1945, 1 missing
P-51D 44-63280  pilot Epperson April 16, 1945
P-51D 44-64145  pilot Brady crashed April 16, 1945
P-51K 44-12025  pilot Horwath crashed April 17, 1945
P-47D 42-23195  pilot Adams crashed April 19, 1945
P-47D 43-25480  pilot Lanaux crashed April 19, 1945
P-38H 42-66629  pilot Herda crashed April 20, 1945
P-47D 42-28209  pilot McLaughlin crashed April 23, 1945
P-51D 44-64045  pilot Kammeyer crashed April 24, 1945
P-51D 44-63357  pilot Neitzke crashed April 24, 1945
P-47D 42-28008  pilot Tharp crashed April 28, 1945
P-51D 44-63280  pilot Kammeyer crashed May 1, 1945
P-51K 44-12075  pilot Wahlquist crashed May 3, 1945, 1 missing
P-38H 42-66885  pilot Buckley crashed May 6, 1945
P-38J 42-67168  pilot Stinson crashed May 12, 1945
P-51D 44-72054  pilot Moore crashed May 16, 1945
P-51D 44-64089  pilot Waller crashed May 17, 1945
P-38J 42-67144  pilot Tucker crashed May 17, 1945
F-5B 42-67351  pilot Warren crashed May 18, 1945

360th Air Service Group (360th Service Group, 360th SrG)
B-24D "Golden Lady" 42-40814  pilot Tosch MIA July 19, 1944, 13 missing
B-25J 43-36004  pilot Warvel ditched November 10, 1944, 1 missing
A-20G "Crap Shooter" 42-54155  pilot Andreotti crashed October 1, 1944, 3 missing, resolved
A-20G 42-86717  pilot Campagna crashed October 1, 1944, 3 missing, resolved
A-20G 43-21428  pilot Peterson crashed November 10, 1944 (three MIA)
A-20G "Oh Please!" 43-9419  pilot Knobloch crashed November 21, 1944 (two KIA, BR)
P-70A 42-54161  pilot Sutliff crashed October 22, 1944 (three MIA)
P-51D 44-15235  pilot Clapp crashed January 2, 1945
BT-13B 42-89657  pilot Weitzel crashed January 9, 1945, 2 missing, remains recovered, resolved
BT-13B 42-89612  pilot Wingo MIA January 14, 1945, 2 missing, remains recovered, resolved
A-20G "Shag On" 43-9134  pilot Sleeth crashed February 9, 1945
C-47B 43-16204 pilot Wondaal crashed February 19, 1945
B-24J 42-109981  pilot MacDonald crashed February 28, 1945, 11 missing remains recovered 1979
P-51D 44-63310  pilot Milliken crashed March 5, 1945
P-38 pilot Carter  crashed July 5, 1945 pilot rescued
A-20G 43-21638  pilot Showalter crashed November 8, 1944, remains recovered
B-25 pilot Thompson  ditched November 10, 1944 crew rescued by RAAF Catalina A24-92

7th Airdrome Squadron (7th ADS)
B-25J 43-36164  pilot Beneke crashed September 29, 1944
A-20G 43-21622  pilot Hamwey MIA January 20, 1945 wreckage found, 2 missing

58th Service Group, 386th Service Squadron
P-47D 42-22687  pilot Lutes crashed April 29, 1944, 1 missing, salvaged 2004

1st Composite Fighter Squadron
P-47D 42-23241  pilot Barker crashed September 30, 1944, 1 missing located 1962, remains recovered 2012 resolved 2015

Aircraft assigned to the CRTC scrapped postwar at Nadzab service with the CRTC, scrapped postwar
B-25D "Little Chief Cockeye"  scrapped at Dobodura circa 1947
A-20G Havoc 42-86888  scrapped at Nadzab circa 1947
A-20G "Eloise" 43-21426  likely scrapped postwar
B-13B Valiant Code E 90  scrapped postwar at Nadzab circa 1947

Commanding Officers (C. O.)
Colonel John P. "Jock" Henebry 1944–1945
Colonel Carl A. Brandt June 29, 1944–January 26, 1945

References
Pictorial History FEAF CRTC
MACR 14320 search by CRTC aircraft for C-47 43-16011 MIA March 27, 1945
Western Pacific Escapades During World War II (2004) by Kenneth L. Smith pages 22-25 (October 20, 1944–November 9, 1944 briefing) 25-31 (November 10, 1944 mission)
Thanks to John P. "Jock" Henebry, Justin Taylan, Edward Rogers and Keith Hopper for additional information