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| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG 433rd FS  475th FG c1943 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Virgil A. Hagan, O-746094, (MIA / KIA) Salem, OR MIA October 17, 1943 MACR 1420 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-1-LO Lightning serial number 42-66561. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 433rd Fighter Squadron (433rd FS) "Possum". No known nickname or nose art. Squadron number 181 (White 181) in white on the nose and tail. When lost, engines (left) V-1710-91 serial number 42-93621 (right) V-1710-89 serial number 42-29680. Weapon serial numbers noted in Missing Air Crew Report 1420 (MACR 1420). Mission History On October 17, 1943 took off from North Borio Airfield (Dobodura No. 15) piloted by 2nd Lt. Virgil A. Hagan as wingman for 1st Lt. John Babel on a patrol mission over Allied shipping off Morobe Harbor off Cape Ward Hunt at 18,000' at 10:30am. The weather was favorable. A large group of forty or more Japanese aircraft were sighted and the P-38s climbed to 20,000', released their drop tanks and dove to attack roughly a dozen A6M Zeros. This P-38 was last seen in a dive at 2,000' off Cape Ward Hunt chasing an enemy fighter over the sea east of Buna by 1st Lt. Babel. When this aircraft failed to return, Hagan was officially reported Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost are P-40N 42-104991 (MIA), P-38H 42-66743 (MIA), P-38H 42-66836 (rescued), P-38H "We Dood It" 42-66908 (survived). Memorials Hagan was officially declared dead the day the mission. He earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Hagen is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38H-1-LO Lightning 42-66561 "66561 (475th FG, 433rd FS) shot down over Oro Bay, New Guinea Oct 17, 1943, possibly by the famous ace Nishizawa. MACR 1420." Missing Air Crew Report 1420 (MACR 1420) created October 18, 1943 Western Union telegram reporting Hagan missing in action piloting P-38H 42-66561 Letter from Daniel T. Roberts to Hagan;s mother October 22, 1943 [PDF] American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Virgil A. Hagan FindAGrave - 2Lt Virgil A Hagan (photos, Tablets of the Missing) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38H Lightning 42-66561 Thanks to the Hagan family 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 April 28, 2025
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