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| USAAF 5th AF 6th PRG 8th PRS  Ruff c1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Charles E. Bateson, III, O-432230 (MIA / KIA) Rye, NY MIA October 8, 1943 MACR 794 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 1415. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-66904. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group (6th PRG), 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (8th PRS). No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines V-1710-89 and V-1710-91 serial numbers 42-94161 and 42-30146. Wartime History On October 8, 1943 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Charles E. Bateson, III on a mission to escort F-4 Lightning pilot Lt. Horatio Holton over the Madang area. This P-38 was last seen over the Madang area and failed to return. Possibly, his last radio message was at 3:20pm when a ground station recorded "Bandits 5. Let's get them." This message was not heard by aircraft in the flight. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage This aircraft has never been found or identified. The unidentified wreckage of P-38 wreckage on Siar Island or P-38 wreckage at Nobnob could possibly be associated with this aircraft. Memorials Bateson was officially declared dead on December 15, 1945. He Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Bateson is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records Charles E. Bateson Trd USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38H-5-LO Lightning 42-66904 "66904 (8th PRS, 6th PRG) shot down by fighter in Madang area, New Guinea Oct 8, 1943. Pilot MIA. MACR 794." Missing Air Crew Report 794 (MACR 794) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles E. Bateson III FindAGrave - 1Lt Charles Edward Wagstaffe Bateson, III (obituary, tablets of the missing photo) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38H Lightning 42-66904 The Eight Ballers: Eyes of the Fifth Air Force (1999) by Stanaway and Rocker pages pages 84 (September 21, 1943), 85 (September 28, 1943... October 4, 1943), 86 (October 7-8, 1943), 95 (photo), 160 (MIA) (Page 86) "Ludtke and Holton lost sight of Bateson somewhere in the Madang area, and the last message received over the interphone from Bateson was, "Bandits at five o'clock. Let's get 'em." Evi- dently Bateson had seen the Japs and was maneuvering for an at- tack when the other pilots lost contact with him. We have no word from Lt. Bateson, but we have every hope that he got himself a couple of little bastards and will come walking in one of these days. Although relatively new and unknown to the Squadron, Charlie was a veteran fighter pilot of this theatre with over 90 combat mis- sions in 39s and 38s. Our association with him in the few weeks he was with the Squadron proved him to be an excellent pilot and a hell of a good felow. Our thoughts and hopes are for him and safe return." Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated August 9, 2026 |
 P-38  MIA 1 Missing |
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