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  F4F-4 "Junior" Bureau Number 5192 Fuselage Code F-12
USN
USS Saratoga
VF-5


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M Claringbould 2008

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M Claringbould 1998

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Justin Taylan 2003

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Justin Taylan 2006
Pilot  Lt. James "Pug" J. Southerland II (survived) Narberth, PA
Crashed  August 7, 1942

Aircraft History
Built by Grumman as a model G-36 with manually operated folding wings. On April 1, 1942 delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4F-4 Wildcat bureau number 5192.

Wartime History
During early April 1942 assigned to USS Saratoga (CV-3) to Fighting Squadron Five (VF-5) "Fighting Five". Assigned fuselage code F-12 in black and was the only Navy squadron to retain the F as a designator. Nicknamed "Junior" painted in small black letters beneath the cockpit by pilot Ensign Mortimer Kleinmann, Jr.

Mission History
On August 7, 1942 at 12:03pm took off from USS Saratoga (CV-3) piloted by Lt. James "Pug" Southerland II on a mission to intercept a Japanese air raid of G4M1 Bettys escorted by A6M2 Zeros, targeting U.S. transports in Sealark Channel off Guadalcanal. This was the first Japanese air raid of the Guadalcanal campaign. In the rush to scramble, Southerland boarded this aircraft instead of regular pilot Ensign Kleinmann.

Around 1:18pm, Southerland shot down a G4M1 Betty under the command of Shizuo Yamada from the 4th Kōkūtai (4th Air Group), the first Japanese aircraft lost during the Guadalcanal campaign.

After shooting down the bomber, he was engaged by A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group). Following a lengthy dog fight, this Wildcat was chased by Zeros including pilot Saburo Sakai and hit by gunfire from both 7.7mm bullets and 20mm cannon shells that severely damaged the Wildcat. Southerland managed to bail out just moments before the plane exploded before crashing into the jungle inland from the north coast of Guadalcanal.

After shooting down this Wildcat, Saburo Sakai made a solo attack against a formation of SBD Dive Bombers, mistaking them as more fighters. As he closed to attack, the dive bomber's rear gunners opened fire and hit his Zero and severely wounded him. Although wounded, Sakai managed to fly back to base, blinded in one eye in his heavily damaged Zero.

Officially, this Wildcat was not removed from the Navy list until September 30, 1942. This aircraft was the first American aircraft shot down during the Guadalcanal campaign. The dogfight when it was lost is documented air combats of the Pacific War, as both pilots survived to record their experiences.

Fate of the Pilot
After bailing out, Southerland bailed out and parachuted to the ground unhurt. He was met by Solomon Islander Bruno Nana who helped him to reach American lines. On August 20, 1942, Southerland was evacuated from Guadalcanal on the first PBY Catalina to land at Henderson Field. He later returned to combat and became an ace himself, and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC).

Wreckage
This Wildcat exploded at low altitude moments before impacting the ground. The wreckage landed in a ravine covered with dense jungle. Most parts have been well preserved by thick foliage protection. Black stenciling is visible on both sides of the fin "NAVY 5192", and a stencil on the inside of a cowl flap "5192". Parts of the left elevator still had intact camouflaged fabric on them. Three Browning .5 caliber machine guns were located, as was the engine, with two cylinders cleanly removed through combat damage, and bullet holes in the prop.

Michael Claringbould adds:
"On February 14, 1998 I was led by a Solomon Islander to the scattered wreckage of a Wildcat fighter. Markings on the wreckage confirm that the aircraft was Bu 5192 flown by "Pug" Southerland II, shot down by Japanese ace Saburo Sakai on August 7, 1942, the date of the Guadalcanal US landing. I was substantially assisted in my research by John Innes, expert on Guadalcanal battlefields, and New Zealander Ewan Stevenson. The aircraft is arguably the most historic U.S. Navy aircraft wreck of World War II".

Justin Taylan adds:
"I visited this wreckage twice. The first time in 2003 and the second time in 2006. The second visit appears in the documentary Dogfight Over Guadalcanal, that aired on PBS NOVA Secrets of the Dead."

Memorials
Southerland attained the rank of Commander. On January 12, 1949 he disappeared in a jet training accident during a take off accident from a carrier off Florida.

Relatives
Sheridan John Southerland (son of James "Pug" Southerland II)

References
Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4F-4 Wildcat 5192
"5192 (VF-5, USS Saratoga) shot down Aug 7, 1942 in Guadalcanal campaign. Pilot bailed out. Correlates with claim by Saburo Sakai. Wreckage discovered in 1998."
USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List August 1942 F4F-4 Wildcat 5192 Ens F. Blair [sic Southerland]
New York Times "Flier Fights 31 Japanese Planes; Has 11 Wounds When He Bails Out" March 15, 1943
FindAGrave - CDR James Julien "Pug" Southerland, II (photo)
"Fighter Pilots in Aerial Combat" No. 6 Fall 1982 by John Lundstrom
Samurai! (2001 edition) by Saburo Sakai pages 160-162 recollections of Sakai versus Southerland dogfight
The First Team And The Guadalcanal Campaign (1994) by John B. Lundstrom pages 48-55 and 552-3
Winged Samurai (1985) by Henry Sakaida pages 59-71 (reprint of Lundstrom 1982 article)
Ôzora no samurai by Saburo Sakai
Ôzora no samurai (1976) depicts the shoot down of this Wildcat
Pacific Ghosts CD-ROM by Justin Taylan / Michael Claringbould documents F4F Wildcat 5192 crash site
PBS/NOVA Secrets of the Dead "Dogfight Over Guadalcanal" 2006
Thanks to Sheridan John Southerland, John Lundstrom, Michael Claringbould and Justin Taylan for additional information

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Last Updated
December 12, 2023

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