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| USAAF 5th AF 49th FG 9th FS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. James W. Fagan, O-746067 (MIA / KIA) Monroe County, NY MIA September 6, 1943 MACR 6578 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 222-7284. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38G-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-12850. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) "The Flying Knights". No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines V-1710-51 serial number 42-32964 and V-1710-55 serial numbers 42-29304. Armed with 20mm cannon maker and serial number unknown plus four .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On September 6, 1943 at 11:40am took off from Horanda Airfield (Doboruda No. 4) piloted by 2nd Lt. James W. Fagan as part of "Blue Flight" as wingman for flight leader P-38H 42-6???? pilot Captain Richard I. Bong with element leader 1st Lt. Hyland and element wingman 1st Lt. Raymond A. Swift on a mission to intercept by a formation of Japanese fighters and bombers in the vicinity of Lae and Finschhafen. This was Lt Fagan's first combat mission. The weather was 3/10 cloud cover at 15,000' at Morobe with the weather clear and clouds building up over Lae. At 1:30pm last seen by Captain Richard I. Bong and 1st Lt. Raymond A. Swift over the Huon Gulf roughly 15 miles south of Lae. This aircraft appeared to be having difficulty in dropping its right drop tank. When this P-38 failed to return, it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Statement by Captain Richard I. Bong dated September 8, 1943: "Blue flight of the 9th Fighter Squadron, 49th Fighter Group, made up of Captain Richard I. Bong, 0433784, Second Lieutenant James W. Fagan, 0746067, First Lieutenant Norman D. Hyland, 0659821 and Second Lieutenant [sic 1st Lt.] Raymond A. Swift, 0746219, took off at 1140 hours, with orders to patrol over the Morobe area. While over the Lae-Finchhafen area at approximately 1345 hours this flight attacked an enemy formation of bonbers and fighters. After the attack, evasive action was taken. Upon landing at the home base at 1505 hours, it was found that Lieutenant Fagan was missing. None of the members of Blue flight had seen Lieutenant Fagan go down." Statement by 1st Lt. Raymond A. Swift September 8, 1943: "Lieut. Hyland was element leader of Blue flight and I was flying his wing when we intercepted a formation of enemy fighters and bombers over the Lae-Finschhafen area. We dropped belly tanks but Lieut. Fagan could not drop his right tank. The flight then split up into two ship elements for the attack. When last seen, Lieut. Fagan had drawn off a little to one side in an attempt to drop his right tank. By that time the enemy fighters had reached us in an attempt to protect the bombers. I last saw Lieut. Fagan while he was still trying to drop his right tank, laging aways behind Captain bong, Flight leador. He never returned to our base and was never sighted on our search missions. Insofar as the fight took place over water, and novisible sign of life or a life raft was sighted on the search missions, had he gone down in the water, it is doubtful to believe he survived." Search On September 7, 1943 the squadron began six days of consecutive searching led by Captain Gerald R. Johnson flying over the area he was presumed lost flying over the area from Finschhafen down the north coast of New Guinea and 50 miles inland and the route from Lae to Horanda plus offshore islands in the vicinity. No trace of the plane or pilot were found. Statement by 1st Lt. Raymond A. Swift statement about the search: "On a squadron flight 7 September 1943, and on every flight for the next six consecutive days, searched the area In which, it is believed, he night have gone down. Everyone participated in the search by splitting up the flights and searching the area in question. The area covered extendIng from Finschhaten down the cosst to Lae, and extending 50 miles inland. The area enroute from Lae to Horanda was very carefully searched. The ocean and all islands betwean Finschhafen and Dobodura was searched for a life raft or any visible signa of Life. It is an opinion that if he crashed on land or was on a life raft in the water, he would have easily been spotted. Captain Gerald H. Johneon, 0-428829, was in charge of the search." Memorial Fagen earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He was officially declared dead on December 19, 1945. Fagen is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Saint Francis Cemetery in Le Roy, NY. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James W. Fagan USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38G-5-LO Lightning 42-12850 Missing Air Crew Report 6578 (MACR 6578) created September 8, 1943 According to the 49th Fighter Group History, it was thought that the aircraft may be in the Wau or Tsili Tsili area. The 49th Fighter Group History states that the interception took place about 20 miles southeast of Lae. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James W. Fagan FindAGrave - 2Lt James W Fagan (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - James W Fagan (memorial marker) Protect and Avenge (1995) pages 190-191 "Once he reached his 9th FS quarters, Bong learned that his two bomber kill claims in the fight of September 6th could not be confirmed. But the most telling blow to the young captain came with the news of his rookie wingman who had not yet been accounted for. Apparently 2nd Lt. Jim Fagan had been shot down over the gulf." South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 421-422 (September 6, 1943) 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  Map Sept 6, 1943  MIA 1 Missing |
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