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| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG 431st FS Former Assignment 35th FG 39th FS  Richard E. Smith 1943  D Pennefather 1986   Justin Taylan 2000  Justin Taylan 2003  Daniel Leahy 2006 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Dolphus R. Dawson, II (survived) Kingston, NC Crashed December 4, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 1416. At the factory painted with olive drab upper surfaces and gray lower surfaces. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-66905. Project number 96121. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS). Squadron Number 33 was painted in white on both sides of the nose. Both lower engine cowlings were painted with the squadron's shark mouth motif. Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Richard E. Smith who nicknamed it "Japanese Sandman II" to replace his original aircraft P-38F "The Japanese Sandman" 42-126??. On the left side of the nose below the cockpit was seven Japanese rising sun flags indicating Smith's aerial victory claims. During the middle to late 1943, this aircraft operated from North Borio Airstrip (Dobodura No. 15) primarily flown by 1st Lt. Richard E. Smith on combat missions over the north coast of New Guinea including the missions when he claimed his fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh aerial victory claims. Known missions include the following dates: On July 21, 1943 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Richard E. Smith on a mission over Bogadjim and claimed two aerial victories over Ki-61 Tonys, his fourth and fifth aerial victories. On July 23, 1943 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Richard E. Smith on a mission over Lae and claimed a Ki-43 Oscar, his sixth aerial victory. On September 23, 1943 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Richard E. Smith on a mission over Finschafen and claimed a Ki-43 Oscar, his seventh aerial victory claim. During late 1943 when the 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS) transition to the the P-47D Thunderbolt, this plane was transfered to the 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS) "Hades" and continued to operate from North Borio Airstrip (Dobodura No. 15). Mission Landing On December 4, 1943 took off from North Borio Airfield (Dobodura No. 15) piloted by Lt. Dawson on a training exercise. During the flight, this P-38 suffered mechanical difficulties and force landed into a swamp area near Embi Airfield No. 2. Pilot Dawson survived unhurt. Wreckage During September 1985, this wreck was reported by Frank Egiembari to David Pennefather. On the side of the cockpit, "R. E. Smith" was still visible on the side of the cockpit. Also, the radio call sign was still attached to the instrument panel. During 1986, former pilot Richard E. Smith and his wife Dorine visited the wreckage. Recovery In late 2000, both tail booms and various fittings were recovered by Robert Greinert / HARS. Greinert claimed at the time the parts would be restored or used in other P-38 restorations. During 2003, the booms were in storage at Bankstown Airport and were later loaned to Classic Jets Museum, then became part of lawsuit between HARS and Classic Jets Museum over their ownership. During 2006, the parts were transported to Precision Aerospace, where they are stored outdoors and claimed to be owned by Gerald Yagen. On one of the tail booms, the hand painted project number "96121" was visible in white paint. Memorials Dawson remained in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and retired as a Major. He passed away on August 21, 1995 and is buried at Augusta Cemetery at Augusta Cemetery in Augusta, MT at plot I, 4. Former pilot Richard E. Smith remained in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and retired with the rank of Captain. He passed away on February 19, 2006 and is buried at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL at plot A-8 A 15. Relatives Kari Dawson-Ekeland (daughter of Dawson) "He didn't go by Junior he used II. He retired from the USAF as a Major, went on to get a PhD and was a Econ Professor and rancher. Interestingly I was under the assumption that my Dad had been shot down but that may have been latter in his career. He passed away in 1995. His brother Roy Dawson was a navigator in the military. His children are: Anita Armold, Danielle Neal, Kari Dawson-Ekeland and Dolphus R. Dawson III." References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38H-5-LO Lightning 42-66905 USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Smith, Richard E. page 176 (PDF page 183) NARA 431st Fighter Squadron Microfilm 1065 No. 3, frame 882 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38 Lightning 42-66905 "Aircraft crashed in a swamp, 3 miles northeast of airstrip #12, Dobodura" FindAGrave - Dolphus Ransome Dawson (grave photo) FindAGrave - Richard E Smith (grave photo) Discovery of P-38H "Japanese Sandman II" by David Pennefather Stars & Bars (1995) pages 33-34 (39th FS, Smith), 565 (Smith, Richard Eugene Snuffy) Pacific Ghosts CD-ROM (2001) includes this wreck Pacific Ghosts - Interview with Richard E. Smith Thanks to Richard E. Smith, Kari Dawson-Ekeland, David Pennefather, Robert Greinert and Gerald Yagen for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? 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