RNZAF
14 Squadron
Pilot Flight Lieutenant J. O. McFarlane (MIA / KIA)
MIA December 17, 1943
Aircraft History
Constructors Number 28779. USAAF Serial Number 42-105877. Written off books 31 January 1944.
Wartime History
Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BOC at Hobsonville on August 16, 1943. Assigned to 16 Squadron.
Mission History
A 75 aircraft fighter sweep over Rabaul. USN 22 Hellcats, 31
USMC Coursairs and the RNZAF's first major air operation when 24 P-40s
from 16 and 14 Squadrons took off from
Ondonga at
5:30am. They flew to Torokina to refuel, then split up into two groups,
led by Freeman and Arkwright to Rabaul.
Two P-40s aborted on the way to the target due to mechanical failures.
Over the target, McFarlane's leader Vanderpump dove onto eight Zekes above shipping in the harbor. Vanderpump shot down a Zeke, then chases a Zeke attacking McFarlane, both escaping by diving through intense anti-aircraft over Rabaul town, McFarlane was hit and crashed near Praed Point.
This mission a total of three P-40s and two pilots were lost: this aircraft and P-40 NZ3153 over southern New Ireland. Nine aircraft were claimed, 5 by RNZAF, 4 by USN.
John Douglas adds:
"I recently got some photos of a
P-40 in a Southern NI plantation, that I suspect is his. It seems that
only New Zealand P-40s raided Rabaul [my checking is not yet complete].
Two P40s were lost that day over Rabaul, and perhaps 3 P40s are known
to have been lost over Rabaul, for which no trace has ever been found."
References
Air to Air tells an account of the December 17, 1943 mission.
Thanks to ADF Serials for aircraft history.
P-40
MIA
