|  |
|
| |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 7th AF 15th PG 46th PS  USAAF December 7, 1941 |
Aircraft History Built by Curtiss. Constructors Number unknown (five digits). During 1938, delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC) as P-36A Hawk serial number 38-?? (38-0??) last two digits unknown. The rear fuselage had the last tow digits of the serial number in large black digits. 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 unknown with a rudder with red and white stripes and a blue stripe. Wartime History On December 7, 1941 in the morning during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu, pilot 2nd Lt. Gordon H. Sterling, he raced to the flight line to this plane and taxied to a revetment at the edge of the runways and joined other pilots: 1st Lt Lewis M. Sanders and 2Lt. John Thacker. They were joined by P-36A Hawk 38-86 pilot 2nd Lt Philip M. Rasmussen. They prepared to scramble and together took off from Wheeler Field around 8:50am under fire. Once airborne, the pilots were directed by radio to engage Japanese planes over Kaneohe Bay on northern Oahu. During the dog fight with what was believed to be about eleven enemy planes. In fact, they intercepted nine A6M2 Zeros from Sōryū in the second wave. Sterling was shot down and listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Sterling References 7 December 1941 The Air Force Story - Chapter IV 7 December 1941: A Day That Will Live in Infamy page 77, 78 (photo) Exploding Fuel Tanks (2011) by Richard Dunn pages 6 (image credits), 48-49 (photos) RLDunn - Pearl Harbor – A Tragedy Revisited Part II (2025) by Richard Dunn "2Lt. Philip Rasmussen claimed one victory... Rasmussen managed to return in a badly damaged fighter that was a write off. This action was with fighters from Soryu, nine of which were part of the second wave attack. Three were lost, one of them to ground fire. One fell in this combat. Another may have been damaged in this combat and was apparently lost trying to make for Niihau Island the designated rescue point." Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Philip Martin Rasmussen (grave photos) FindAGrave - LTC Philip M. Rasmussen (photo, grave photo) Contribute
Information |
 P-36 |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
