"My first crash landing. In China, February 3, 1944. Major Weatherly, pilot. Probably at Kunming."
Wrecked B-25 MItchell, which should be B-25D-15, #41-30385. Another image of this crash can be seen here.
22nd Bombardment Squadron, in the CBI.
Background on this mission (courtesy of Tony Strotman):
22BS_Mission_B-197_44-02-03
Maj Weatherly (C.O.) led a two-ship formation with Lt. Anderson from Yangkai at 0700 hours to determine weather conditions in the area covered during reconnaissance and sea sweep over the Gulf of Tongking.
The ships followed a course from Yangkai to a hook in the Black River at 20° 45' N, 105° 03' E., to a point 25 miles north of Vinh, where they swung directly east in a sea sweep over the Gulf, to 19° 05' N, 106° 20' E.
Bombing attacks were initiated on shipping, however, due to malfunctions, half the bombs couldn't be dropped, and the other half didn't explode.
Proceeding north over Gulf to 19° 15' N, 105° 50' E. At Vinh, in a low level strafing attack on a docked 200 foot Japanese ship, the Major's plane (#385) struck the top of the mast, tearing a hole in the leading edge of the right wing between the engine and fuselage, severing hydraulic lines and damaging the right elevator and stabilizer.
The flight proceeded direct to Kunming, where it was necessary for Maj. Weatherly to perform an emergency, gear up landing. Although the plane would require major repair, no one was injured and the crew returned to Yangkai aboard Lt. Anderson’s plane (#589) with the round 12 inch cap from the mast, which had entered the navigator's compartment. (Operational Intelligence Report; 341st History, Reel B0284 page 975)
[ Weatherly piloted B-25D-15, 41-30385, and Anderson piloted B-25C-25, , 42-64589. 41-30385 reached 341st BG on/about 43-05-30. On 6 Feb #589 would crash into mountains near Nanning, China while lost in weather returning from a mission. All crew missing (MACR 2317), later declared dead.]
Background of Major Weatherly (courtesy of Tony Strotman):
Edison C. Weatherly completed Pilot Training, Class 41-I, and was assigned to 57th Pursuit Squadron, Windsor Locks, NY. Almost immediately he was transferred to 23rd Pursuit Group, Brooklyn, NY, which was awaiting transport orders to China. Before that occurred he was transferred to the Dawson Project and ordered to Lockheed Aircraft Company, Burbank, California.
Aka as 10th Air Force Detachment, the Dawson Project's mission was to deliver thirty-five Lockheed A-29A Hudson light bombers to Chinese Air Force and provide introductory training to Chinese pilots. Thereafter, they would be absorbed into the 23rd Fighter Group at Kunming. Per USA Mediterranean Expeditionary Air Force Operation Order #1, July 31,1942, Weatherly and the 26 other pilots who had reached Khartoum, Sudan were to continue to Chungking via Karachi, India. Twenty-three were able to complete the delivery and training mission. However, the 23rd FG lacked enough airplanes so Weatherly and several of the others were ordered back to Karachi.
At Karachi, Weatherly was assigned to the 490th Squadron of the 341st Bombardment Group, when it was created on 16 Sep 1942. He became involved in the intial build up of the squadron and its operations over Burma from Feb through Sep. 1943. On 23 Oct he was assigned as Commander, 22nd Bomb Squadron. He served as Commander until 2 Jul 1944 when he was relieved to return to USA.