Commander Frederick Schrader, born in Carbondale and raised in Lawrenceville, Illinois, was shot down in 1944 during the Battle of Formosa (Taiwan), will be buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Hawaii on Thursday, April 13 at 11:30 a.m. local time.
In October 1944, CDR Schrader was commander of Carrier Air Group 11 on the USS Hornet, one of 17 aircraft carriers to take part in the Battle of Formosa (now known as Taiwan), which took place between Oct. 12 - 15.
On Oct. 13, Schrader’s F6F-5 Hellcat fighter (he was flying an aircraft belonging to Fighting Squadron (VF) 11) was shot down during an attack on Toko Seaplane Base on Formosa. His wingman never saw a parachute or any evidence Schrader was able to exit the aircraft before it crashed. No rescue attempt was possible because the crash happened in enemy territory.
From the Hornet’s War Diary:
“Strikes continue on the morning of the 13th against substantially the same objectives on Formosa. The same airfields were hit again and more planes destroyed. The destruction of the facilities at Heito and Reigaryo was continued. … the day was marred by the loss of the Air Group Commander Frederick Schrader by AA fire. He was shot down while leading a strafing attack, and his loss was a serious one since his leadership and work with the Air Group had been outstanding.”
CDR Schrader was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart Medal for his actions that day.
From the citation of CDR Frederick R. Scharder’s Posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross “By his inspiring leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and cool courage in the face of tremendous odds, Commander Schrader contributed materially to the extensive and costly damage inflicted on the enemy in this area and his valiant devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his live for his country.”
The Recovery of CDR Schrader
After being shot down, CDR Schrader’s body was recovered by Imperial Japanese forces in the area, returned to a local headquarters, and inspected by an intelligence officer. He was interred as “X-136 Schofield,” a WWII unknown recovered from Formosa, in the National Cemetery of the Pacific (NMCP, also known as “Punchbowl”) in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Through the determined efforts of former Naval Flight Officer Matt Robbins, Missing-in Action researcher with the USS Hornet Museum, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) agreed to undertake the identification beginning in 2018.
Research by DPAA analysts found more evidence linking the two, and on Aug. 11, 2022, X-136 was disinterred and taken to the DPAA laboratory at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, for analysis. On Sept. 27, X-136 was positively identified as CDR Frederick Rutherford Schrader. Frederick will be buried in NMCP on 13 April 2023 with full military honors, with members of his family in attendance.
Information provided by Navy Personnel Command Public Affairs
USS HORNET – Battle of Formosa
Frederick Rutherford Schrader.
Birthplace: Carbondale, Illinois
Date: March 12, 1913
Hometown: Lawrenceville, Illinois
Enlisted: 23rd Illinois District
Date: June 15, 1931
Rank/Rating: Commander
Designation: Naval Aviator
Promotions: Ensign: 06/06/1935;
Lieutenant Junior Grade: 06/06/1938
Lieutenant: 08/20/1942
Lieutenant Commander: 05/01/1943
Commander: 03/01/1944
Loss Date: Killed in Action: 10/13/1944
Duty Station:
Commander, Air Group 11, USS Hornet (CV 12) Fighter Squadron 3
Commander, Scouting Squadron (VS) 2D12
Naval Air Station Alameda, CA
Observation Squadron (VO) 3, USS Idaho (BB 42)
Fighter Squadron (VF) 4, USS Ranger (CV 4)
Naval Air Station, Pensacola, FL
USS New Mexico (BB 40)
Student, US Naval Academy
Awards and Decorations*
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart Medal
Navy “E” Ribbon
American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet Clasp, Bronze “A”)
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Med
from the citation of CDR Frederick R. Scharder’s Posthumous Distinguished Flying Cross
“By his inspiring leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and cool courage in the face of tremendous odds, Commander Schrader contributed materially to the extensive and costly damage inflicted on the enemy in this area and his valiant devotion to duty throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his live for his country.”
