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  P-38H-1-LO Lightning Serial Number 42-66669  
USAAF
5th AF
35th FG
39th FS

Pilot  1st Lt. Howard N. Round Jr., O-792066 (MIA / KIA) Buffalo, NY
MIA  January 23, 1944 at 11:25
MACR  2136

Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 1180. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-1-LO Lightning serial number Pacific Wrecks - P-38H-1-LO Lightning Serial Number 42-66669. 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). No known nickname or nose art.

When lost, engines V-1710-89 serial number 42-29810 and V-1710-91 serial number 42-93818. Armed with a 20mm cannon maker and serial number unknown plus four .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown.

Mission History
On November 7, 1943 took off from Kiriwina Airfield pilot by 1st Lt. Howard N. Round Jr. flying as wingman for P-38 pilot Captain Richard T. Cella on a fighter sweep over Rabaul. The weather was scattered cumulus clouds up to 18,000'. After reaching the target area, just before descending, last seen by Captain Richard T. Cella approximately five miles east of Rabaul and appeared to be alright. After starting to descend, this plane was not seen again. When this P-38 failed to return, it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Search
Afterwards, no search was made for this aircraft.

Memorials
Round was officially declared dead on December 15, 1945. He earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. Round is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Howard N. Round Jr.
USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38H-1-LO Lightning 42-66669
"66669 (35th FG, 39th FS) shot down by enemy aircraft 5 mi E of Rabaul during raid on Rabaul, New Guinea Nov 7, 1943. Pilot KIA. MACR 3038."
Missing Air Crew Report 3038 (MACR 3038) created February 21, 1944
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Howard N. Round Jr.
FindAGrave - 1Lt Howard N Round Jr. (photo)

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Last Updated
April 6, 2024

 

Tech Info
P-38

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
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