Crash of P-51 Mustang 43-24797 MACR 12668

The 31st Fighter Group, 309th Fighter Squadron of the Fifteenth Air Force was based at San Severo, Italy. The airfield, located near the land spur on the Adriatic, was nicknamed “Gracie.”  Between April 1944 and March 1945, the fighter group flew P-51s in support of the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. In late January 1945, a severe 12 inch snowstorm hit San Severo and operations were cancelled for a couple of weeks.  Missions continued in February but there was little Luftwaffe resistance.

At 09:40 hours on 22 February 1945, 1st Lt. John T. Cravey took off from San Severo to provide general target cover and strafing in the Freising area of Germany. This was his second mission. His Mustang was a P-51C with serial number 43-24797 and WZ-L markings on the tail. At 14:00 hours and at an altitude of 16,000 feet, Carvey was seen to jettison his canopy and disappear into overcast clouds above Innsbruck, Austria.  Gasoline or glycol and dark smoke were observed coming from a hole in his canopy and fuselage.  His wingman, Captain Roger H. Zierenberg (O-722201) circled for about 15 minutes hunting for any signs of a parachute or crashed wreckage.  None were found.  Missing Air Crew Report 12668 was filed when he did not return to base.

Pilot 1st Lt. John T. Cravey (O-668209) was born in Birmingham, AL on 7 May 1915, the son of James B. Cravey (1889-1976) and Aileen Cravey (1895-1981).  After graduating from high school, he attended college for two years.  In April 1939, he married Anna C.  They lived in Montgomery, AL. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 26 March 1942 in Montgomery, AL.  He was an enlisted man and was assigned serial number 14096938 but later entered officers’ candidate school to become a pilot. 

He was injured as the result of the crash and was awarded the Purple Heart.  He continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.

He died at age 79 on 7 February 1995 in Montgomery, AL and buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Montgomery, AL