Pilot  Lt Bartlett (MIA / KIA)
Crashed  October 29, 1943
MACR  1193

Aircraft History
Engines: V-1710-91 serial number 42-93617 V-1710-89 serial number 42-29710.

Mission History
This Lightning was on an escort mission for bombers to Rabaul. Attacked by Zeros over Wide Bay near Tarobi village. Last seen at 10,000 feet directly over the north shore of Wide Bay. After Bartlett came out of the dive over Wide Bay he eventually forced landed his P-38 a half mile from shore near Bakoba Point.

Keith Hopper adds:
"Tarobi village is on the North side of the island at least 60nm away. I suspect he was in action over Wide Bay, sustained battle damage and headed as far west away from Rabaul as his damaged P-38 would take him. Perhaps the battle/damage and/or loss of altitude caused him to be on the north side of the island. His track home would have been south west, so being on the south side of the island would have been preferable. But if he realised how badly his plane was damaged, he may have been reluctant to commit to a long over water flight. Also there are several Fifth P-38's still missing on that Rabaul to Kiriwina sector."

Survival
Bartlett walked away from the P-38 and survived with villagers in the area for two months before he was captured, and exicuted by the Japanese.

Brother's Search
His brother, after hearing the story, returned to the site in 1944 a few months after the Americans took over the area, in an attempt to find his brother. Natives told him about the exicution.

References
Thanks to Keith Hopper for additional information

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