Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-66857. 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. When lost, engines V-1710-91 serial number 42-94097 and V-1710-89 serial number 42-30074. Aboard were .50 caliber machine guns serial numbers 412232, 397425, 397371 and 235314 and 20mm cannon 58504.

Mission History
On November 2, 1943 one of twelve P-38s took off from Borio Airfield (Doboudra No. 11) on mission number 3-85 to escort two squadrons of B-25 Mitchells over Rabaul. Weather was scattered cumulus clouds to 27,000'.

Over the target, engaged by 30-35 Zeros from above and both flanks. The escorting P-38s were forced on the defensive. While engaged in aerial combat over Simpson Harbor, King attempted to engage two Zeros and was last seen by 1st Lt. Donald D. Revenaugh. When this aircraft failed to return, King was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
King was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
Missing Air Crew Report 1421 (MACR 1421)
433rd Fighter Squadron microfilm AO 808, frames 726, 2023
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38H Lightning 42-66857
American Battle Monument Commission (ABMC) - Donald Y. King
FindAGrave - 2Lt Donald Y King (tablets of the missing photo)

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Last Updated
December 2, 2019