|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 49th FG 9th FS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. James W. Fagan, O-746067 (MIA / KIA) Monroe County, NY MIA September 6, 1943 MACR 6578 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 222-7284. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38G-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-12850. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) "The Flying Knights". No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines V-1710-51 serial number 42-32964 and V-1710-55 serial numbers 42-29304. Armed with 20mm cannon maker and serial number unknown plus four .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On September 6, 1943 took off from Horanda Airfield (Doboruda No. 4) piloted by 2nd Lt. James W. Fagan as part of "Blue Flight" as wingman for flight leader Captain Richard I. Bong with element leader 1st Lt. Hyland and element wingman 1st Lt. Raymond A. Swift on a mission to intercept by a formation of Japanese fighters and bombers in the vicinity of Lae and Finschhafen. This was Lt Fagan's first combat mission. The weather was 3/10 cloud cover at 15,000' at Morobe with the weather clear and clouds building up over Lae. This aircraft appeared to be having difficulty in dropping its right drop tank. At 1:30pm last seen roughly 15 miles south of Lae by P-38 pilot Captain Richard I. Bong and P-38 pilot 1st Lt. Raymond A. Swift. When this P-38 failed to return, it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search On September 7, 1943 the squadron began six days of consecutive searching led by Captain Gerald R. Johnson flying over the area he was presumed lost flying over the area from Finschhafen down the north coast of New Guinea and 50 miles inland and the route from Lae to Horanda plus offshore islands in the vicinity. No trace of the plane or pilot were found. Memorial Fagen was officially declared dead on December 19, 1945. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Fagan has a memorial marker at Saint Francis Cemetery in Le Roy, NY. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38G-5-LO Lightning 42-12850 Missing Air Crew Report 6578 (MACR 6578) created September 8, 1943 According to the 49th Fighter Group History, it was thought that the aircraft may be in the Wau or Tsili Tsili area. The 49th Fighter Group History states that the interception took place about 20 miles southeast of Lae. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James W. Fagan FindAGrave - 2Lt James W Fagan (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - James W Fagan (memorial marker) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
|
 P-38  MIA 1 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
