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. Prior to this combat Stone had three confirmed victories.

AIrcraft History
The precise serial number of this P-40E is unknown. Assigned to the FEAF, 24th Pursuit Group 17th Pursuit Squadron and flown in the defense of the Philippines during December - February 1942.

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 Stearman biplane piloted by Jesus Villamor was taking photographs over the Ternate area. The P-40s flew top cover above.

Spotted by a Ki-46 Dinah, six Ki-27 Nates intercepted the formation over the Bataan peninsula and a dog ensued between the Ki-27 Nates and the two escorting P-40s. During the combat, Lt. Stone pursued a single Ki-27 Nate piloted by Kurosawa.

On the ground at Mariveles, on eye witness reported a Japanese fighter chasing a P-40 overhead, gaining on it. The two went in and out of clouds around Mount Mariveles, then an explosion was heard.

Spike Nasmyth adds:
"This eye witness was was at least 6 miles away from the fight so how in hell could he tell who was behind who. None of the other pilots in the fight said anything about a Nate chasing Stone, all of them did say one thing, Stone was a hell of a pilot. I believe he had the [Ki-27 Nate] in his sights and was blasting away. He finished off the Nate and didn't have room to pull out."

Both Sgt Toshisada Kurosawa and Lt. Stone failed to return. Both are listed as Missing In Action (MIA ) to this day.

Wreckage
In February 2007, the wreckage of the Ki-27 Nate piloted by Kurosawa was discovered by a team including Spike Nasmyth, Brad Blythe, Kevin Hamdorf and Filipinos who hoped to located Stone's P-40.

Spike Nasmyth noted in 2007:
"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."

During February 2008, the team continued to search for Stone's P-40 in the same vicinity, without results.

During February 2009, Filipinos discovered wreckage on the same ridge, roughly 600' below the Nate crash site. They discovered part of the Allison engine and began searching. Soon, they also discovered an aluminum ammunition chute from a P-40E, 50 caliber ammunition and other wreckage. Immediately, the site was reported to JPAC in February 2009. Further explorations of this crash site are planned in the future.

Memorials
Stone is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
Doomed from the Start pages 310 - 314, 461
Thanks to William Bartsch for additional information
Thanks to team members: Spike Nasmyth, Brad Blythe and Kevin Hamdorf for additional information
Search & Recovery Mission - May 2008 Update by Kevin Hamdorf

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

P-40

MIA