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| USAAF 13th AF 347th FG 339th FS   USAAF 1943 |
Pilot 2nd Lt George D. Richards, O-743504 (MIA / KIA) North Manchester, IN MIA October 19, 1943 at 11:25am MACR 809 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 1399. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-66888. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 347th Fighter Group (347th FG), 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines V-1710-91 serial number 42-94141 and V-1710-89 serial number 42-30084. Armed with a 20mm cannon maker and serial number unknown and four .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On October 19, 1943 took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal piloted by 2nd Lt George D. Richards on a mission to escort B-24 Liberators on a bombing mission over Kara Airfield on southern Bougainville. Part of a flight of four P-38s flying low cover for the bombers, led by 1st Lt. Bill Harris with wing man Lt. Richards. Leading the second element was 1st Lt. James L. Eubanks and wingman 2nd Lt Jarrold D. Lilliedoll. The weather was reported as good. Returning, the formation was scissoring in elements of two over the lead bomber in the formation. Intercepted by 10-12 Zeros. An enemy Zero was observed peeling off to try to make an overhead attack on Eubank. Flight leader Harris responded by pulling over to assist Eubanks, causing the Zero to pull back. While scissoring in formation, this P-38 accidentally collided with P-38H Lightning 42-66626 piloted by 1st Lt. James L. Eubanks causing the right wing to break off and right engine to explode. Both aircraft crashed into the sea roughly three miles northeast of the East Cape of Fauro Island. No parachutes was observed. Last seen by 2nd Lt. Jarrold D. Lilliedoll. The crash was observed by fellow pilots 1st Lt. John R. Mulvey, Jr., 1st Lt. Bill Harris. 1st Lt. John R. Mulvey Jr. O-409685 via MACR 810 page 2 / MACR 809 page 7: "Our force of twenty-four (24) B-24's and thirteen (13) P-38's were twenty-twenty-five (20-25) miles away from the target headed for home when I saw a P-38 crash and explode in the water a few miles north and east of Masamaso Island. I watched the spot of the crash for a few seconds but did not see a parachute anywhere in the vicinity. About the same time I saw another P-38 smoking badly but apparently still under control. I called him in to the other fighters and scissored over him a few times when I suddenly lost him. The last time I saw his ship it was headed 90 degrees to the bombers in the direction of Shortland Island. At the time of the accident we were being attacked by ten (10) to twelve (12) Zeros and in all probability they didn't pass up the chance to knock off this cripple." Memorials Richards was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal, Purple Heart, posthumously. Richards is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Fairview Cemetery in Servia, IN on his parent's grave. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George D. Richards USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38H-5-LO Lightning 42-66888 "66888 (339th FS, 347th FG) collided in midair with P-38 42-66626 over Solomon Islands Oct 19, 1943. MACR 809" Missing Air Crew Report 809 (MACR 809) created October 20, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George D. Richards FindAGrave - 2Lt George D Richards (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Lieut George D Richards (photo, memorial marker photos) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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