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| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG 432nd FS |
Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Contract Number Air Force 24636. On May 12, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 432nd Fighter Squadron (432nd FS) "Clover". No known nose art or nickname. Assigned to pilot Captain Danny T. Roberts, Jr. This aircraft was adorned with six Japanese flags, representing Roberts victory claims. Officially, Roberts was officially credited with 12 victories. The first two with the 8th Fighter Group, 80th Fighter Squadron "Headhunters". The rest of his victories were claimed with the 475th Fighter Group, 432nd Fighter Squadron. It is likely he claimed other aircraft that were not officially credited to him. His first six victories include: 1) April 11, 1943 with 80th Fighter Squadron 2) April 11, 1943 with 80th Fighter Squadron 3) August 21, 1943 with 432nd Fighter Squadron 4) August 21, 1943 with 432nd Fighter Squadron 5) September 7, 1943 with 432nd Fighter Squadron 6) October 17, 1943 (two victories) with 432nd Fighter Squadron This plane operated from North Borio Airfield (Dobodura No. 15). On December 13, 1943 retired from service or was written off. Ultimate fate unknown, likely this aircraft was converted to spare parts, scrapped or otherwise disappeared. An aluminium panel with six Japanese flags and main dataplate were removed by Walter ?, 56987600 139th AACS Sg. Det. 15 / APO 929 and mailed to his home in Nashville, Tennessee. During April 2012, a the dataplate and the aluminium panel with six Japanese flags was sold on Ebay for $2,524.00. Ebay item number 230771642316 sold by mah_to_toh_pa_4bears: "This lot was sent back by a WWII vet who was stationed in the pacific theater from 1943 to 1945. The aluminum piece with the Japanese flags on it measures approx. 8" by 8 & 1/2". The envelope this was sent home in was marked " Contents 2 pieces of aluminum", it contained the kill flag piece, a metal tag marked U.S. Army Air Corps Type P -38H-1-LO, Serial No. AF42-66513 Order No. AF 24636 Date Accepted 5-12-43, and an approval stamp. There was an envelope inside to the vet's Spouse that reads " Honey, Cover the flags with clear shellac and that will preserve them - Love Walter " . She did not cover them with shellac, she used clear cellophane and taped it over the flags, ( see images ). Several other items include a book marked " Airdomes Guide Southwest Pacific Area ", a restricted telephone directory New Guinea Area ( has all military names ranks, jobs, locations etc ), other booklets etc. From what I've been able to learn is that Captain Daniel Roberts flew the P-38 that this tag and aluminum came off of in 1943 over New Guinea." References Ebay "WWII P-38 Lightning Japanese Kill Flags New Guniea KIA Captain Danny Roberts" item 230771642316 by mah_to_toh_pa_4bears ended April 9, 2012 sold for $2,524.00 USAF Aerial Victory Credits - Daniel T. Roberts, Jr Contribute
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