Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
  P-47D "Dirty Old Man" Serial Number ?  
USAAF
5th AF
348th FG
342nd FS

Aircraft History
Built by Republic. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-47D Thunderbolt serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 348th Fighter Group (348th FG), 342nd Fighter Squadron (342nd FS) "Scourgers". Assigned to pilot Walter Benz. Nicknamed "Dirty Old Man" with a white tail section.

On April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday" while parked at Saidor Airfield, hit by A-20G 42-86768 sliding across the runway and damaged. Afterwards, the mission was dubbed "Black Sunday" for the number of aircraft lost. Ultimate fate of this aircraft is unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared.

References
Black Sunday (2000) by Michael Claringbould pages 73 (collision Saidor), 100 (P-47D "Dirty Old Man")
Black Sunday (2023) by Michael Claringbould pages 85 (Saidor collision), 112.116 (P-47D "Dirty Old Man")

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
May 4, 2023

 

Tech Info
P-47
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram