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| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG 431st FS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Edward J. Hedrick, O-736205 (MIA / KIA) CA MIA October 17, 1943 at 10:30am MACR 1419 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 1254. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-66743. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS) "Hades". No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines V-1710-91 serial number 42-93782 and V-1710-89 serial number 42-29972. Armed with 20mm cannon maker unknown serial number 58249 plus four .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers 113136, 113286, 113123 and 223028. Mission History On October 17, 1943 took off from North Borio Airfield (Doboudra No. 12) (APO 503 Strip #12) near Dobodura piloted by 1st Lt. Edward J. Hedrick on a mission to intercept incoming Japanese A6M Zero fighters. The flight was led by P-38H 42-66836 pilot 1st Lt. Thomas B. McGuire with no. 2 wingman P-38 pilot 2nd Lt. Robert E. Hunt. This plane was leading the second element in the no. 3 position with element wingman in the no. 4 postion P-38 pilot Lt. Richardson. After climbing to 23,000', at 10:30am the formation made contact with roughly 30 Zeros and made a head on pass to intercept. During the air combat, Hedrick was seen engaged in air combat by 2nd Lt. Robert E. Hunt roughly 10 miles off shore northeast of Oro Bay making a pass on the enemy formation. When Hedrick failed to return he was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost are P-40N 42-104991 (MIA), P-38H 42-66561 (MIA), P-38H 42-66836 (rescued), P-38H "We Dood It" 42-66908 (survived). Search Afterwards, a search failed to find any trace of this aircraft or pilot. Memorials Hedrick was officially declared missing the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Hedrick is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38H-5-LO Lightning 42-66743 "66743 (475th FG, 431st FS) shot down Oct 17, 1943 in battle over the coast of New Guinea near Oro Bay. MACR 1419" Missing Air Crew Report 1419 (MACR 1419) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward J. Hedrick FindAGrave - 1Lt Edward J Hedrick (photo, tablets of the missing) Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis 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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