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| USAAF 7th AF 15th PG 46th PS  USAAF December 7, 1941 |
Aircraft History Built by Curtiss. Constructors Number 12415. During 1938, delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) as P-36A Hawk serial number 38-86 (38-086). The rear fuselage had "86" in large black digits for the last two digits of the serial number. On June 20, 1941 became part of the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Assigned to the 7th Air Force (7th AF), 15th Pursuit Group (15th PG), 46th Pursuit Squadron (46th PS) at Wheeler Field on Oahu. Tail number 48 15P with a rudder with red and white stripes and a blue stripe. Wartime History On December 7, 1941 in the morning, 2nd Lt Philip M. Rasmussen awoke during the first wave of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu. While still wearing his pajamas, he raced to the flight line to this plane that was undamaged and taxied to a revetment at the edge of the runways and joined three other pilots preparing to take off and together took off from Wheeler Field under fire. Once airborne, the pilots were directed by radio to engage Japanese planes over Kaneohe Bay on northern Oahu. During the dog fight, Rasmussen claimed a Japanese plane shot down then was attacked by two Japanese A6M2 Zeros and hit by gunfire that shattered his canopy, destroyed the radio and severed the hydraulic lines and rudder cable. To escape, Rasmussen flew into clouds then back to Wheeler Field and landed without breaks, rudder or a tail wheel plus more than 500 bullet holes in the plane. For his actions, Rasmussen earned the Silver Star. Fate Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. Memorials Rasmussen died April 30, 2005 at age 86 of of cancer in Fort Myers in Florida. On July 21, 2005 he was buried with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery at section 66 grave 1390. P-36A Hawk 38-1 displayed at the United States Air Force Museum (USAF Museum) is painted in the markings of this aircraft. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Philip M. Rasmussen USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-36A 38-086 "86 to Hawaii with 46th PS, 15th PG at Wheeler Field. Engaged enemy aircraft Dec 7, 1941" USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Rasmussen Philip M. page 137 (PDF page 164) USAAF (Pacific Theater) Credits for the Destruction of Enemy Aircraft in Air-To-Air Combat World War 2. Victory List No. 3 (1985) pages 1 (December 7, 1941) Hall of Valor - Philip M. Rasmussen (Silver Star citation) National Museum of the United States Air Force (USAF Museum) - Lt. Philip Rasmussen and His P-36A (photos) Lecture by Col (Ret.) Philip Rasmussen "Take Off at Pearl Harbor" (audio) Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Philip Martin Rasmussen (grave photos) FindAGrave - LTC Philip M. Rasmussen (photo, grave photo) Contribute
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