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Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 222-7080. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38F-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-12642. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled in Australia. Wartime History On September 17, 1942 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS). Nicknamed "Synchronized Sal". During November 1942 assigned to the 17th Fighter Squadron (Provisional) at Amberley Field. Mission History On December 4, 1942 at 10:50am took off from Amberley Field piloted by 2nd Lt. John G. O'Neill as one of four P-38s on a training mission with Lt. Douglas Morgan and Lt. Rowsey. This aircraft was flying on the wing of 2nd Lt. John G. O'Neill. During a crossover, P-38F "Synchronized Sal" 42-12646 piloted by 2nd Lt. Charles F. Rowsey and collided with this plane and went into a spiral to the left from approximately 5,000' and crashed into mountains at Peak Crossing near Purga. While attempting to bail out, Rowsey was caught on his tail boom and died when his plane impacted the ground. Meanwhile, managed to trim his damaged P-38 to fly on one engine and made a safe landing back at Amberley Field. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38F-5-LO Lightning 42-12642 Activation And History of 17th Fighter Squadron (Provisional) P-38 Type Aircraft pages 2, 3 via AFHRA "7 Dec 194 Monday: Guard of honor was flown over cemetery for funeral of Lt. Rowsey. The following officers made the flight: Lts. Douglas, Rauch, Woodring, Holze, Barnes, Price, Overson and O'Neill. Lt. Rowsey was buried in Ipswitch Cemetery." 370th Service Squadron / 17th PS History 370th Service Squadron pages 1-2 via AFHRA (IRIS 00070873) "On December 4th, while engaged in a routine training mission as a member of a flight, 2nd Lt. Charles F. Rowsey suddenly locked wings with another plane in the same flight piloted by 2nd Lt. John O'Neill. Lt. quickly brought his plane under control, returning to Amberley Field and landed safely. Lt. Rowsey was forced to bail out, but in so doing his parachute became entangled on the empennage of his plane and fell to his death." Contribute
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