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| USAAF 9th AF 370th FG 402nd FS Former Assignments 8th AF 20th FG 79th FS |
Pilot Captain Robert F. McMahon, O-427435 (POW, survived) Mitchell, SD Crashed December 26, 1944 MACR 11470 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 2920. 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 42-104086. Wartime History Assigned 8th Air Force (8th AF), 20th Fighter Group (20th FG), 79th Fighter Squadron (79th FS). Assigned to pilot Major Rufus C. Franklin (C.O. 79th Fighter Squadron). Nicknamed "Strickly Stella's Baby". Next, assigned to pilot Lt. Arthur W. Heiden. Nicknamed "Lucky Lady" in a cursive font in black with a red outline inside double quotes painted by Nick King with a black rectangle with a scoreboard with markings indicating missions flown plus two swastikas indicating aerial victory claims. Afterwards, assigned to the 9th Air Force (9th AF), 370th Fighter Group (370th FG), 402nd Fighter Squadron (402nd FS). When lost, engines V1710-91 serial number A-051417 and V1710-80 serial number A-036171. Armed with 20mm cannon made by International Harvester with serial number 124028 plus .50 caliber machine guns made by High Standard serial number 673833, Savage serial number 1074878, Savage serial number 1177721 and Savage serial number 1776810. Mission History On December 26, 1944 took off from RAF Duxford (USAAF Site A-78) armed with bombs piloted by Captain Robert F. McMahon on an armed reconnaissance mission over the Malmedy in Belgium. The weather was ceiling and visibility unlimited (CAVU). After completing a dive bombing run, went down to strafe enemy vehicles near Schlausenbach in Belgium. Pulling up after the run, this P-38 was seen to have smoke and flames appear around the canopy and became more intense and continued to pull up and appeared to be completely in flames when the escape hatch in the canopy came off at approximately 2,500' then hit the ground. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search The crash was observed by his wingman, 2nd Lt. Lee B. Nolton who circled and did not see a parachute in the air or on the ground. Fate of the Pilot McMahon was captured and became a Prisoner Of War (POW) detained at Stalag III-B Furstenberg Brandenburg, Prussia in Germany until the surrender of Germany. Memorials McMahon remained in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and served in the Korean War. He died March 24, 2016 at age 95. He is buried at Black Hills National Cemetery at section K site 153. Reference NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Arthur W. Heiden NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert F. Mc Mahon Individual Aircraft Record Card (IARC) - P-38J Lightning 42-104086 via AFHRA microfilm reel ACR-75, 2620 USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38J-15-LO Lightning 42-104086 "104086 (370th FG, 402nd FS) lost Dec 26, 1944. MACR 11470" Missing Air Crew Report 11470 (MACR 11470) created December 29, 1944 NARA - World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Robert F. Mc Mahon USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Franklin, R. C. Jr. page 66 (PDF page 73), Heiden, Arthur W. page 85 (PDF page 92), McMahon page 130 (PDF page 137) Hall of Valor - Robert F. McMahon (DSC citation) [Robert F. McMahon oral history interview] (circa 1960s). Museum of Flight Digital Collections American Fighter Aces Association, [Robert F. McMahon oral history interview (Part 6 of 9)], [2002-02-13-1139_AV_127]. Museum of Flight Digital Collections Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 23, 2025 |
 P-38  POW/MIA 1 Prisoner |
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