43-3961           B25      (MACR 6450)

 

On 20 June 1944 a B-25J, # 43-3961, assigned to 10th Air Force, 12th Bomb Group, 82nd Bomb Squadron, Pandaveswar, India, departed its airfield to Palel, India. The crew was:

                                             Pilot                             2ndLt Richard D. Kizer                       0-748998

                                             Co-Pilot                       2ndLt Jack V. Burkett                          0-750332

                                             Navigator/Bombardier 1stLt Celso R. Mosteiro                      0-741745

                                             Radio Operator            TSgt William T. Dalton Jr.                  14156532

                                             Armorer                       Cpl Charles Kelliher                            31007392

                                             Crew Chief                  SSgt Perry B. Cartwright                     34205256

 

The B-25 crashed 50 miles Southwest of Silchan, India. The last to see the B-25 were 2ndLt Duane L. Crosby, # 0-889119, 2ndLt Leonard G. Mood, # 0-806193, and 1stLt Richard J. Motherwell, # 0-741675. A dental chart for SSgt. Cartwright was included, stating he was 26 years old.

The next-of-kin listed were:

                                               Mosteiro          Irma Mosteiro, W, Long Island, NY

                                               Kizer               A. L. Kizer, W, TN

                                                                       Mr Fred Kizer, F, TN

                                               Burkett            B. Burkett, M, Central City, FL

                                               Dalton             T. L. Dalton, M, Rte 3, New ?????, TN

                                               Cartwright       Betty Cartwright, W, Marion, OH

                                               Kelliher           Elinore Kelliher, S, 32 Washington Ave., Holyoke, Mass.

 

Inclimate weather was encountered. The formation seperated to by fly instrument flight rules (IFR).

KIZER, RICHARD DUDLEY, Second Lieutenant, # 0-748998, USAAF

 

Richard D. Kizer was born on 11 August 1921 in Tennessee to Fred Hoyt Kizer (1890-1951 and Nova Nell (Burrow) Kizer (1889-1983). Siblings included Nancy Nell (Kizer) Sorrells (1924-2001)

He graduated from the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. He was married.

 

He enlisted in the USAAF in Memphis, Tennessee, on 22 April 1942. After enlisting, he completed flight instruction through advanced schools, was multi-engine rated, and earned his commission and pilot wings. He was sent overseas to India. On 20 June 1944 a B-25J, # 43-3961, assigned to 10th Air Force, 12th Bomb Group, 82nd Bomb Squadron, Pandaveswar, India, departed its airfield to Palel, India. Inclimate weather was encountered. The formation parted to fly IFR. The B-25 crashed 50 miles Southwest of Silchan, India. The last to see the B-25 were 2ndLt Duane L. Crosby, # 0-889119, 2ndLt Leonard G. Mood, # 0-806193, and 1stLt Richard J. Motherwell, # 0-741675. A dental chart for SSgt. Cartwright was included, stating he was 26 years old. He is remembered on the tablets of the missing in the Manila American Cemetery & Memorial, Philippines. He is remembered on the family monument in the Oakwood Cemetery, Milan, Gibson Co., Tennessee. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.