USAAF
17st Pursuit Squadron
Pilot Lt. Earl Stone
Crashed February 9, 1942
Pilot History
Stone was assigned to the 17th Pursuit Squadron, flying combat on December 10, 1941 from Nichols Field, then in defense of Bataan from Pilar Field and Bataan Field.
Mission History
Took off at 1:00pm from Bataan Field. Stone was the wingman of flight leader, Ben Brown, to escort at 17,000' a Stinson biplane piloted by Jesus Villamor taking photographs over the Ternate area. Two other P-40s flew higher top cover.
Spotted by a Ki-46 Dinah, six Ki-27 Nate fighters intercepted, dog fighting with the escorting P-40s. Lt. Stone pursued a single Ki-27 Nate piloted by Kurosawa.
On the ground at Mariveles, a Japanese fighter had been observed chasing a P-40 overhead, gaining on it. The two went in and out of clouds around Mount Mariveles, then an explosion was heard. Both the Nate and Lt. Stone failed to return. Stone remains MIA to this day.
Spike Nasmyth adds:
"It was our team that found the Type-97 [Nate]. We were hopeful the wreckage was [P-40 pilot] Lt. Earl Stone, but as soon as the radial engine was found we knew it was the Nate. We are not giving up. After this rainy season is passed, we're up the mountain again."
References
Doomed from the Start pages 310 - 314, 461
Thanks to William Bartsch and Spike Nasmyth for additional information
P-40
MIA
