USAAF
5th AF
475th FG
431st FS
CILHI 2000
Robert Jarrett 2003
Pilot John R. Weldon, O-748859 (CA) (MIA/KIA)
Force
Landed January 18, 1944
MACR 1912
Pilot History
Weldon earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart (postumously).
Mission History
Last reported 10 miles south of But.
Last seen at 1050 at 20,000 8-10 miles south of Boram, then was never
seen again. It force landed in kunai at Urimo, behind Wewak.
The center section was burned out, but the pilot dissapeard.
Located & MIA
Search
Wings and booms were present. This
crash site was investigated by US Army CILHI in 2000, believing
the aircraft to be P-38J 42-67142. No
remains were found. It is speculated that the pilot survived the
crash,
burned the cockpit, but no trace was discovered in the vicinity
of the crash. Date of Death recorded as January 16, 1946 (probably day declared dead).
Kieth Hopper adds:
"This Lightning was reported to by an expat living in Wewak to Richard
Leahy, who over flew the site and located it. I visited it by
helicopter in 1999, the pilot put down in a beautiful landing,
the peto tube
was still
on the
wing,
and
all
the props still attached."
Recovery
On June 12-13, 2003 this aircraft was recovered by Robert
Jarrett / Classic Jets Museum, using the Robert
Greinert / HARS
salvage permit for PNG. Currently, the remains are in storage at the
Classic Jets Museum. It is unknown what purpose these components will
serve or be used.
Memorials
Weldon is listed on Tablets of the Missing on Manila National Cemetery.
References
Thanks to Philip Fazzini for additional pilot details.
P-38
MIA
