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| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG 433rd FS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Lewis M. Yarbrough, O-749152 (MIA / KIA) Brown County, TX MIA April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday" MACR 4500 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 3215. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38J-15-LO Lightning serial number 42-104381. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group ( 475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 433nd Fighter Squadron (433nd FS) "Possum". Nose Number unknown (three digits). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines V-1710-91 and V-1710-89 serial numbers A-039306 and A-08394. Weapons installed were 20mm cannon manufactured by International Harvester serial number 124473 plus four .50 caliber machine guns manufactured by Savage serial number 1177176 and High Standard serial numbers 610275, 612287 and 608505. Mission History On April 16, 1944 took off from Nadzab No. 3 Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Lewis M. Yarbrough a mission to escort A-20 Havocs over Hollandia. Returning the formation encountered a severe weather front. This P-38 was last seen approximately five miles west of Bogadjim at an altitude of roughly 10,000-11,000'. The squadron was in good formation and flying on a course of 140° and entered rough weather and was impossible to fly in formation and broke up. All planes were separated and had to reach base individually. Yarbrough was last seen before the formation broke up. When he failed to return and was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search The next day, aircraft from the 5th Air Force searched for this aircraft without success. Wreckage This P-38 crashed and burned near Meibu village. During 2009-2010, a team from JPAC visited the crash site. Memorials Yarbrough was officially declared dead on February 7, 1946. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing, Yarbrough is also memorialized at Kern County Veteran's Memorial in Bakersfield, CA. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38J-15-LO Lightning 42-104381 "104381 (433rd FS, 475th FG) MIA near Bogadijm Apr 16, 1944 during infamous Black Sunday mission to Hollandia." Missing Air Crew Report 4500 (MACR 4500) created April 18, 1944 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38J Lightning 42-104381 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lewis M. Yarbrough FindAGrave - 1Lt Lewis M Yarbrough (tablets of the missing photo) Black Sunday (2000) page ? Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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 P-38  MIA 1 Missing |
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