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| USAAF 5th AF 8th FG 80th FS   80th FS c1944  80th FS May 7, 1944  Richard Leahy 1999  Artwork Jack Fellows |
Pilot Captain Jay T. Robbins (survived) Coolidge, TX Force Landed May 7, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank in December 1943 as the tenth P-38J-15 built. Constructors Number 2822. At the factory, completed with an unpainted aluminum finish with olive drab on the upper nose and inner sides of the engine nacelles for anti-glare. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38J-15-LO Lightning serial number 42-103988. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History During January 1944, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) "Headhunters". Assigned to pilot Captain Jay T. Robbins with crew chief S/Sgt H.P. Mosback. Nicknamed "Jandina III" by Robbins as the third aircraft assigned to Robbins with that nickname, an abbreviation of his name "Jay" and his wife's nickname "Ina" joined together with the nose art of a Buddha with both hands hands raised upward. On the left side of the nose was the pilot's name Capt Jay T. Robbins in red. Below was a scoreboard with Japanese rising sun flags indicating aerial victory claims in five rows of four flags each. Below was the crew chiefs S/Sgt H.P. Mosback. Mission History On May 7, 1944 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by Captain Jay T. Robbins on a mission. Returning, the aircraft suffered a loss of nose wheel hydraulic pressure and was unable to lower the nose gear. Robbins was instructed to force land at Yamai Airfield west of Saidor. Afterwards, Robbins was assigned a new aircraft P-38J "Jandina IV" 43-28832. Wreckage Afterwards, the P-38 was written off and abandoned. This P-38 was stripped for usable parts and abandoned on fuel drums. Until 1999, this aircraft remained in situ at Yamai Airfield. Largely intact, this Lightning was missing the tail booms and outer wing panels and engines. Previously, the nose art and 19 kill markings were cut off the nose and were missing. All that was visible was the name of the crew chief. Identified as "Jandina III" from traces of "J. T. Robbins" and the crew chief's names on the nose. The nose art and kills were cut off the wreck previously. Recovery During the late 1999s, this aircraft was recovered by '75 Squadron' (no association with the RAAF unit). The group claimed wreck was reportedly dug up while the group was recovering aircraft from Finschafen, where they had a salvage permit. In fact, the plane was recovered from Bilau. Export On November 28, 1999 this aircraft was placed into a container at Lae and shipped to Melbourne with other salvaged aircraft including P-38F 42-12652, P-47D 42-75284, P-47D 42-22521, P-47D 42-8074. In 2002, the aircraft were transported by truck to Carnovale's property in Victoria and caught in Melbourne morning rush hour traffic and identified as P-38s and P-47s by many drivers and reported. Later, this P-38 was likely shipped to Westpac Restorations at Rialto Airport. During 2003-2004, this wreckage was stored at their facility but was not acknowledge due to their non-disclosure agreement with the owner/client Paul Allen / Flying Heritage Collection. In 2006, the export of this P-38 came under question as it was outside of their area covered by their export permit, and was cited as an illegal recovery in the PNG Government Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Report. Today, this P-38 is reportedly in storage at the Flying Heritage Collection but is not acknowledge or confirmed. Memorials Robbins passed away on March 3, 2001 at age 81. He is buried at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery at section 11A site 65. References Individual Aircraft Record Card (IARC) - P-38J Lightning 42-103993 via AFHRA microfilm reel ACR-75, 2521 USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38J-15-LO Lightning 42-103988 "103988 restoration project from PNG salvage; current status and location unconfirmed" USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Robbins Jay T., Alphabetical, by theater of operation (SWP) Robbins, Chronological List, 80th FTR SQ P-38 Aces of the Pacific and CBI (1997) by John Stanaway Attack & Conquer (1995) by John Stanaway pages 189 (photo) 190, 192, 291 (photos) Jandina III painting by Jack Fellows FindAGrave - LTG Jay Thorpe Robbins (photo, grave photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated June 27, 2025
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