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Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 1358. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-66847. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled in Brisbane. Justin Taylan adds: "A photograph of this P-38 with the left gun access panel open shows nose number 79 in white atop constructors number 1358. If this plane is indeed constructors number 1358, it would be P-38H-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-66847. In two books by Carl Bong, the brother of Richard I. Bong, this photograph is dated November 1943 or before his November 5, 1943 mission. This Lightning was picked up by Bong between September 20-23, 1943 in Brisbane and flown to New Guinea after his loss of P-38H Lightning Number 79 on September 6, 1943 at Tsili Tsili Airfield." Wartime History During late September 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) "The Flying Knights". Squadron Number 79 in white was painted on the nose and tail. Assigned to Captain Richard I. Bong who around September 20, 1943 ferried this plane from Eagle Farm Airfield northward to New Guinea. Below the cockpit on the left side of the nose was a black rectangle with "Pilot Capt R. I. Bong, Crew C: T/Sgt C. C. Breden, Ass't C.C. Cpl W. Finkel". Below was a scoreboard with 19 Japanese rising sun flags (5x5x5x4) indicating Bong's 19 aerial victory claims as of October 2, 1943. Two Japanese flags representing Bong's victory claims on September 6, 1943 that were downgraded to probables. Bong flew twenty combat missions in a P-38H-5 during October 1943 and November 1943. likely in this plane. On November 5, 1943 took off from Kiriwinia Airfield piloted by Captain Richard I. Bong as flight leader of "Red Flight" on an mission to escort B-24 Liberators over Rabaul. Over the target, Bong claimed two victories, his twenty and twenty-first aerial victories. His wingman, P-38F "Sooner" 42-12655 piloted by 2nd Lt. George C. Haniotis went Missing In Action (MIA). Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References USAF Serial Number Search - P-38F-5-LO Lightning 42-66847 Combat Report Captain Richard I. Bong, November 5, 1943 Ace of Aces: The Dick Bong Story (1985) page 52 (photo, caption: "Cap't Bong No. 79. Getting her ready to go, November 1943") Dear Mom: So We Have a War (1991) pages 281 (photo, caption: "The armorer loading up the business end of No. 79 before the November 5th raid on Rabaul", 302 (artwork "Bong over Rabaul [P-38 No. 79] November 5, 1943") Stars & Bars (1995) pages 154 (November 5, 1943) The Missions and P-38 Lightnings of Richard I. Bong: A Synopsis (2002) page 19, 26 (October 2, 1943), 26A (photos), 27 (November 5, 1943, Commentary No. 1), 28 (Commentary No. 1, continued, footnote 12) Contribute
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