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| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG 431st FS Former Assignment 35th FG 39th FS    Justin Taylan 2003 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Martin P. Hawthorne, O-855043 (KIA, BR) Barry County, MI Crashed January 22, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 7145. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38G-1-LO Lightning serial number 42-12711. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS) "Cobra In The Clouds". No known nickname or nose art. No known nickname or nose art. Likely, this plane had a squadron number on the nose and tail. On July 26, 1943 took off piloted by Lt. John H. "Shady" Lane when he claimed a Zero damaged 20 miles west of Lae. Later, assigned to the 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS) "Hades" at North Embi Airfield (Dobodura No. 12). Likely assigned a three digit tail number between 110–130. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On January 22, 1944 took off from North Embi Airfield (Dobodura No. 12) on a test flight and crashed roughly 700 yards off the northwest end of Doboudra No. 7 (Girua Airport). Pilot Hawthorne was killed in the crash. Recovery of Remains Afterwards, his remains were recovered from the crash site and buried in New Guinea. Postwar, his remains were transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials Hawthorne was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He was buried at Rock Island National Cemetery at section E site 246. Wreckage This aircraft crashed into a ditch and broke into pieces. During the 1980s, the wreckage was rediscovered by villagers while clearing land for a new garden. The aircraft has a large "7" painted in yellow on the tail. This is possibly a digit from the U.S. Army Air Force serial number "212711" or possibly a tail number from one of the squadrons it was assigned before the crash. Today the crash site located off the inland side of the road between Popondetta and Oro Bay. Justin Taylan visited the crash site in 2003: "Villagers talk about several bones [part of skull and arm bone] found at the site. They took the bones and buried them in village cemetery. I left them with a U.S. flag for the grave that they were happy to accept it." Kieth Hopper adds: "I found the USAAF serial number stamped into a cowl panel beside the manufacture number. This is quite rare. I have only seen it once before, on the F-4 41-2140. I suspect it was stamped in theatre upon arrival and the practice was discontinued as more and more P-38's started to arrive. I have the individual aircraft card for this aircraft. It was officially written off on the 23rd of January 1944 as Converted Missing Enemy Action. I suspect the reference to missing enemy action refers to the immediate lack of access to the crash site due jungle and remoteness and the fact the loss occurred in a combat zone. The land owner is expecting his friend Rob back this week to collect the wreckage which he has already signed over." Relatives Charlie Kerr adds: "There are still living relatives in the Hastings MI area including myself. My step son Tyler Kerr is researching Martin's death on behalf of the family." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Martin P. Hawthorne USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38G-1-LO Lightning 42-12711 Combat (Fighter) Report - 39th Fighter Squadron, Kenneth C. Sparks, March 3, 1943 Combat Report - 39th Fighter Squadron, Kenneth C. Sparks, March 4, 1943 Combat Report - 39th Fighter Squadron, Kenneth C. Sparks, July 18, 1943 Combat Report - 39th Fighter Squadron, Kenneth C. Sparks, July 21, 1943 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38 Lightning 42-12711 FindAGrave - Martin P Hawthorne (grave photo) Stars & Bars (1995) pages 568 (Sparks: 03/03/43, 03/04/43, 07/18/43, 07/21/43, P-38F 42-12627) 392 (Lane: 07/26/43) The Missions and P-38 Lightnings of Richard I. Bong: A Synopsis (2002) page 21, footnote 10 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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