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| USAAF 5th AF 8th FG 80th FS  John Douglas 1995 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Campbell P. M. Wilson (WIA, survived) Dallas, TX Force Landed April 12, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 222-7291. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38G-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-12857. 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". No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On April 12, 1943 took off from 3 Mile Drome (Kila) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Campbell P. M. Wilson as one of three P-38s on a local patrol led by 1st Lt. Donald C. McGee with 2nd Lt. Robert Siebenthal While airborne, the trio were vectored to intercept a Japanese air raid of G4M1 Bettys escorted by A6M Zeros approaching Port Moresby. While climbing to the enemy formation, Wilson experienced trouble with his right engine and fell behind the other two P-38s, dropped into cloud cover, and did not participate in the interception. Later, while flying inland of Yule Island, Wilson was jumped by an single A6M Zero that opened fire from the rear. A single burst of gunfire shattered his cockpit canopy and damaged his left engine. Wilson was wounded by shattered perspex glass and shrapnel hit his eye The attacking Zero pulled up, allowing Wlison to dive and spiral to the left and escape. Damaged, he managed to land at 30 Mile Drome (Rogers) but after touching down, veered off the runway and was further damaged. Afterwards, was written off and abandoned and stripped for usable parts. Wreckage During the 1970s, the wreckage was noted as having the right engine removed. During 1979, the nose section, separated from the rest of the plane was recovered for the PNG Museum for use in the restoration of P-38F 4Lightning 2-12647. Until at least 1995 wreckage remained including the left engine. Sometime afterwards, the rest of the plane was scrapped or removed. Justin Taylan adds: "As of 2004, the wreckage at Rogers was either scraped or otherwise missing." Memorials Wilson was promoted to Major and became the Commanding Officer (C.O.) of the 433rd Weapons Squadron between August 15, 1944–March 13, 1945. Postwar, Wilson continued in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and served in the Korean War. He retired with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He earned the DFC (DFC), Legion of Merit and Purple Heart. Wilson passed away on 16 Aug 1988 at age 73. He is buried at ANC at Arlington National Cemetery at section 34, site 156-A-2. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38G-5-LO Lightning 42-12857 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38G Lightning 42-12857 Attack & Conquer (1995) page 104 Last Major Japanese Air Raid Over Port Moresby Operation I-Go: April 12, 1943 Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) Campbell Perry Monroe Wilson (grave photos) FindAGrave - Campbell Perry Monroe Wilson (grave photo) Thanks to Bruce Hoy and Edward Rogers for additional 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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