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| USAAF 5th AF 418th NFS Former Assignments 8th FG 80th FS  80th FS November 2, 1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Edward E. Craig, O-743420 (MIA / KIA) Brea, CA Crashed March 4, 1944 MACR 3306 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38G-1-LO Lightning serial number 42-12705. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) "Headhunters". Tail code "V" with a thin white horizontal stripe on the upper tail and painted tip. On November 2, 1943 took off from Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Cy Homer on a mission to escort B-25 Mitchells over Rabaul. Inbound to the target, photographed with P-38H 42-66835 escorting B-25D "Arkansas Traveler" 41-30094. Later, assigned to the 418th Night Fighter Squadron (418th NFS). Nicknamed "Veni Vidi Vici". One of three P-38G's converted to night fighters at the 4th Air Depot at Townsville. When lost, engines V-1710-55 and V-1710-51, serial numbers unknown. Mission History On March 4, 1944 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Edward E. Craig mission over the eastern tip of Manus Island with P-38G Lightning pilot 2nd Lt. Robert M. Forrestal. At about 8:30pm, last sighted and radio contact was about 120 miles off Finschhafen on course 170°. Both aircraft were then caught in a thunderstorm. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Returning, P-38G pilot Forrestal crash landed out of fuel at Cape Gloucester and later returned to duty. Memorials Craig was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Craig is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker on the grave of his mother, Ruth Mary “Peggy” Gatchell Craig at Loma Vista Memorial Park in Fullerton, CA. Reference USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38H-5-LO Lightning 42-12705 "12705 (418th FG) lost Mar 4, 1944. MACR 3306" PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38G Lightning 42-12705 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward E. Craig FindAGrave - 1Lt Edward E Craig (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Edward E Craig (memorial marker photo) Thanks to Keith Hopper for additional historical information 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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