1st Lt. Van Nelson Moad, Jr. in a group image of American flyers in Karachi, August, 1944. Born March 6, 1922, from Nampa, Idaho. He was a member of 8th Fighter Squadron, 3rd Fighter Group, CACS, and disappeared on a fighter sweep mission from Laohekou to Hankou flying P-51C #42-106971,"Big Blue Eyes," dated January 14, 1945. Declared dead January 15, 1946.
Canyon County, Idaho.
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42-106971 MACR 11630
On 14 January 1945 a P-51C-10, “Big Blue Eyes,” # 42-106971, assigned to 14th Air Force, 3rd Fighter Group, 8th Fighter Squadron, Liangshan, China, departed the airfield at Laohokow, on a combat fighter sweep over Hankow airdrome. The pilot was 2ndLt Van N. Moad Jr., # 0-712025. His fighter was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crash-landed near 31° 20’ North & 113° 05’ East.
MOAD, VAN NELSON, JR., Second Lieutenant, # 0-712205, USAAF
Van N. Moad Jr. was born on 6 March 1922 in Nampa, Idaho, to Van Nelson Moad (1899-1987) (OR) and Alta Amanda (Smith) Moad (1901-1983) (married 23 March 1921, Boise, ID). Siblings were William H. Moad (1925-1985), Marjorie Ann (Moad) Chastain (1929-2000). He married Constance Stacia (Fleming) Fernandez nee Moad (1923-2011) on 2 January 1942 in Ada, Idaho.
He registered for the WWII draft on 30 June 1942, employed by Troy Laundry, resided at 503 6th St., Nampa, Canyon Co., Idaho, and described himself as 5’10 ½”, 130 lbs, with brown hair and eyes. He enlisted in the USAAF in Boise, Idaho, on 17 October 1942. After he enlisted in the USAAF, he completed flight instruction through advanced schools to fly the North American Aircraft P-51 Mustang. He earned his commission and pilot wings. He was sent overseas through India to China, assigned to the 14th Air Force. On 14 January 1945 a P-51C-10, “Big Blue Eyes,” # 42-106971, assigned to 14th Air Force, 3rd Fighter Group, 8th Fighter Squadron, Liangshan, China, departed the airfield at Laohokow, on a combat fighter sweep over Hankow airdrome. His fighter was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crash-landed near 31° 20’ North & 113° 05’ East. The pilot was killed. He is remembered on the tablets of the missing in the Manila American Cemetery & Memorial, Philippines. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
His father, born 1 March 1899, served during WWI in the U.S. Marine Corps from 12 November 1918 into 1919 as a Private, Messman, Supply Detachment, Mare Island, California.
His brother, William H. Moad, born 13 January 1925, served in the U.S. Army from 23 August 1943 to 17 October 1945. He died 12 September 1985.
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