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| USAAF 13th AF 4th PRG 17th PRS  USAAF 1942 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Ardell A. Nord, O-660672 (MIA / KIA) Wolverton, MN MIA February 14, 1943 MACR 621 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructor Number 222-7120. Converted from a P-38G model into a F-5A photographic reconnaissance version. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as F-5A-1-LO Lightning Serial Number 42-12678. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SOPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 4th Photo Reconnaissance Group (4th PRG), 17th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron (17th PRS). No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines V-1710-55, serial number 42-32330 and 42-28536. Camera serial numbers unknown. Mission History On February 14, 1943 at 7:47am took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal piloted by 2nd Lt. Ardell A. Nord on a visual and photographic reconnaissance over Kahili Airfield (Buin Airfield) on southern Bougainville. After take off, this aircraft was never heard from again or seen again. When this plane failed to return, Nord was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Justin Taylan adds: "I researched this loss at the Tokyo Defense archives. Japanese Kodochosho (action report) for 252 Kōkūtai (252 Air Group) reveals that four A6M Zeros led by PO2c Tamotsu Okabayashi took off from Ballale Airfield on a combat air patrol claimed a single 'P-38' as shot down at 9:31am local time. This claim was undoubtedly for F-5A Lightning 42-12678 piloted by 2nd Lt. Ardell A. Nord. Memorials Nord was officially declared dead on December 15, 1945. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Wolverton Norwegian Lutheran Cemetery in the cenotaph at Wolverton, MN. On September 7, 1943 the 17th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron (17th PRS) held a memorial service on Guadalcanal to honor the members of the squadron MIA/KIA to that date including 1st Lt. Harold W. Erwin, 1st Lt. John A. Mancini (MIA F-5A 42-12967), 2nd Lt. Ardell A. Nord (MIA F-5A 42-12678), 2nd Lt. Charles Roberts, Jr. (MIA pilot F-5A 42-12680) 2nd Lt. Fred H. Baird (MIA F-5A 42-12983), 2nd Lt. Roy L. Peterson (MIA F-5A 42-12977) and Pvt Edward P. Gray. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records Ardell A. Nord USAF Serial Number Search Results - F-5A Lightning 42-12678 "12678 (17th PRS, 4th PRG) lost Feb 14, 1943, Solomon Islands. MACR 621" Missing Air Crew Report 621 (MACR 621) created August 21, 1943 Kodochosho, 252 Kōkūtai, February 14, 1943 17th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron (17th PRS) Guadalcanal Memorial Service September 7, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ardell A. Nord FindAGrave - Lieut Ardell Axel Nord (photo, memorial marker photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated April 19, 2021
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 F-5  MIA 1 Missing |
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