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| RAAF No. 75 Squadron |
Pilot Sgt Donald Whiteside Munro, 405641 (KIA, BR) Indooroopilly, QLD Crashed May 2, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Constructors Number 555. Delivered to the U.S. Army as serial number 41-5535. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History During March 1942 delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Kittyhawk A29-48. On April 5, 1942 assigned to No. 75 Squadron. Tail code "Y". No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On May 2, 1942 at 7:30am took off from 12 Mile Drome (Berry) near Port Moresby piloted by Sgt Donald W. Munro as one of three P-40s led by FSgt Crawford to intercepted A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kokutai (Tainan Air Group) with P-39 Airacobras from the 8th Fighter Group (8th FG). During the air combat, Crawford, saw Munro's aircraft spinning and burning. This P-40 crashed, killing Munro. Wreckage After the crash, the wreckage of this P-40 was found by the Australian Army approximately 6 miles northwest of the aerodrome. The aircraft was positively identified by the U.S. Army serial number 41-5535 located on the airframe. Recovery of Remains After the crash, Munro's remains were recovered from the crash site and buried at Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery. Memorials Munro was declared dead the day of the mission. He is buried at Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery at B1. A. 4. References Other sources incorrectly state this Kittyhawk as lost over Turnbull Airfield at Milne Bay. CWGC - Donald Whiteside Munro Seek and Strike page 38 ADF Serials - P-40E Kittyhawk A29-48 Eagles of the Southern Sky page 56 incorrectly states this P-40 was nicknamed "Poison P" [sic, no nickname] RAAFDB - P-40E Kittyhawk A29-48 RAAFDB - Donald Whiteside Munro Thanks ADF Serials / Gordon Birkett and Daniel Leahy 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 April 26, 2021 |
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