Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
  P-38F-5-LO Lightning Serial Number 42-12665  
USAAF
5th AF
35th FG
39th FS

Pilot  2nd Lt. John "Johnny" H. Mangas, O-725327 (MIA / KIA) Portland, OR
MIA  January 8, 1943
MACR  none

Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 222-7099. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38E-2-LO Lightning serial number 42-12665. On June 17, 1942 redesignated as P-38F-2-LO Lightning. On August 2, 1942 redesignated as P-38F-5-LO Lightning. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Mission History
On January 8, 1943 in the morning took off from 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. John H. Mangas on an escort mission no. 1 over Lae and returned safely from the mission. Due to pilot shortages, Mangas volunteered to fly another mission.

In the afternoon took off again from 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) piloted by 2nd Lt. John H. Mangas on escort mission no. 3 over Lae. The formation included sixteen P-38s to fly top cover for B-17 Flying Fortresses from the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) bombing a Japanese convoy unloading at Lae.

Over the target, the formation was intercepted by the Japanese fighters including Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) Ki-43 Oscars from the 11th Sentai plus Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) A6M Zeros from the 582 Kōkūtai (582 Air Group) and 252 Kōkūtai (252 Air Group). During the air combat, the 39th Fighter Squadron claimed seven victories, including Richard I. Bong who claimed his fifth aerial victory and became an ace. Mangas was last seen continuing to make firing passes at enemy planes, and disappeared into the clouds near dusk. At 6:20pm, his flight leader Lt. Hoyt Eason called on the radio for all pilots to form up and return to Port Moresby.  When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Search
After 6:20pm when Mangas failed to rejoin the formation flight leader Lt. Hoyt Eason remained in the area for another 15 minutes and attempted to locate him, but saw no planes airborne and returned to Port Moresby concluding Mangas was shot down.  Other pilots in the squadron were in disagreement about precisely where Mangas was lost, some claimed over land or others believed he crashed into Huon Gulf.

Memorials
Mangas was officially declared dead on January 8, 1946 and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously and was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, posthumously. Mangas is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Portland, Oregon in the family plot in section J, 17, 4.

Relatives
Gary Smith (nephew of Mangas)
"John Mangas was the first P-38 lighting pilot lost in combat in the Pacific area."

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John H. Mangas
USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38F Lightning 42-12655
"41-12665 P-38E-2-LO Lightning redesignated P-83F-2-LO Jun 17, 1942, then P-38F-5-LO Aug 12, 1942 (39th FS, 35th FG) MIA Jan 8, 1943 near Lae, New Guinea. First P-38 loss of the war. SOC Apr 1, 1944"
39th Fighter Squadron mission report January 8, 1943
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38F Lightning 42-12665
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John H. Mangas
FindAGrave - 1Lt John H Mangas (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Lieut John Henry Mangas (photos, memorial marker)
The Times "Final Flight: Family keeps memory of World War II pilot John Mangas alive"

39th Fighter Squadron Association - 2nd Lieutenant John H. Mangas by Gary Smith
The Oregonian "Missing Man flyover honors P-38 pilot lost in the Pacific" May 25, 2006
Thanks to Gary Smith for additional information

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
March 27, 2024

 

Tech Info
P-38

MIAMIA
1 Missing
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram