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| USAAF 5th AF 8th FG 80th FS Former Assignments 35th FG 39th FS  80th FS September 1943  80th FS October 1943 |
Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 1331. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-66820. 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. By early September 1943, assigned to the 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) "Headhunters". Squadron letter "J" in yellow on the left side of the nose covering the last two digits of the constructors number. Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Jay T. Robbins. Nicknamed "Jandina" but the name was not painted on the aircraft. The nickname was an abbreviation for his nickname "Jay" and his wife's nickname "Ina" joined together with a phonetic pronunciation of "Juan-Deena". On the left nose gun cowling was the nose art of a Buddha figure in yellow with both hands raised upward. Below the cockpit on the left side of the nose "-Pilot- Lt. Jay T. Robbins" in yellow with a scoreboard of Japanese rising sun flags indicating his aerial victory claims. The scoreboard had seven flags (3x3x1) his aerial victory claims as of October 24, 1943. The scoreboard had four rectangular shaped blank outlines, possibly for probables he claimed. On September 4, 1943 took off from 3 Mile Drome (Kila) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt Jay T. Robbins on a mission over Lae-Salamaua and claimed four Zekes [sic Ki-43 Oscars] his fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh aerial victory claims and became an ace. He also claimed two Zeke [sic Ki-43 Oscar] probables. On October 24, 1943 took off from 3 Mile Drome (Kila) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt Jay T. Robbins as one of sixteen P-38s from 80th Fighter Squadron on a mission to escort B-25s on a low level mission over Rabaul. At 11:30am flying at 11,000' over Kabanga Bay, the P-38s intercepted "Hamps" attacking the B-25s. During the air combat, Robbins claimed four Hamps shot down, his eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh aerial victory claims. Also a Hamp probable. On November 2, 1943 took off piloted by Jones who claimed one Hamp shot down and one probable. On November 7, 1943 took off piloted by Hill who claimed one Zero shot down and one Zero probable. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. Afterwards, Robbins was assigned P-38J "Jandina II" 42-67590. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38H-5-LO Lightning 42-66820 Individual Combat Report 1st Lt. Jay T. Robbins Mission No. 225 24 October 1943, 80th Fighter Squadron Mission Over Rabaul 24 October 1943 by Jay T. Robbins Stars & Bars (1995) page 525 (Robbins 09/04/43, 10/24/43) Attack & Conquer (1995) pages 173 (color photo), 174 (color photo), 267 (42-66820 Robbins), P-38 Lightning Aces of the Pacific and CBI (1997) pages 50 (profile 16 "Betty" [sic Jandina]), 53 (profile 29 Jandina III), 93 (profile 16 description "Betty" [sic Jandina]) P-38 Lightning Aces 1942-43 (2014) pages 38-39 (July 21, 1943), (42 (photos), 46 (October 24, 1943), 55 (profile 16), 91 (aces 5th AF, Robbins), 93 (profile 16 description) Thanks to Robbie Robbins for additional information Contribute
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