Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
  F-5B-1-LO Lightning Serial Number 42-67328  
USAAF
13th AF
4th PRG
17th PRS

Pilot  1st Lt. William E. Herzog, O-666531 (MIA / KIA) TX
MIA  April 18, 1944
MACR  3997

Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 1839. Converted from a model P-38G Lightning into a F-5B-1 photographic reconnaissance version. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as F-5B-1-LO Lightning serial number 42-67328. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 4th Photo Reconnaissance Group (4th PRG), 17th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron (17th PRS). No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines model V-1710-91 serial number 42-94353 and Model V-1710-89 serial number 42-30850.

Mission History
On April 18, 1944 took off from Bougainville piloted by 1st Lt. William E. Herzog
on a photographic mission bound for Kavieng on New Ireland. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). This aircraft was believed to be lost between Buka and Kavieng.

Relatives
Richard Zeni adds:
"Last contact was with ship on takeoff. There also was a report stating that a chute in the trees at Fatsigan Island (where is this island can't find it on maps) which results were negative. The niece wants to put a closure on her uncle. Can you help with any information?"

Memorials
Herzog was officially declared dead on January 23, 1946. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Herzog earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with nine Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Kyle Cemetery in Kyle, TX.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William E Herzog
USAF Serial Number Search Results - F-5A-10-LO Lightning 42-67328
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - F-5B Lightning 42-67328
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William E. Herzog
FindAGrave - 1Lt William E Herzog (tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - William Edward Herzog (memorial marker photo)

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
December 5, 2022

 

Tech Info
F-5

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram