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| USAAF 5th AF 6th PRG 8th PRS "Eight Ballers"  8th PRS April 30, 1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt Hewitt H. Clark, O-732165 (survived) Crashed April 30, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 1894. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as F-5B-1-LO Lightning serial number 42-67383. 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) "Eight Ballers". Tail Number 83 (last two digits of serial number) painted in white in large digits. No known nose art or nickname. On February 29, 1944 this plane was likely piloted by 1st Lt Hewitt H. Clark on a patrol off Aitape off the north coast of New Guinea. Mission History On April 30, 1944 took off piloted by 1st Lt Hewitt H. Clark on a patrol and while attempting to land at Tadji Airfield made an error on landing and crashed into P-40N Kittyhawk A29-405 damaging both aircraft. The wreckage of this Lightning came to rest in a swampy area near the edge of the runway. Pilot Clark was unhurt in the crash. References USAF Serial Number Search Results -F-5B-1-LO Lightning 42-67383 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - F-5B Lightning 42-67383 Description of Circumstances Pertaining To Missing Aircraft by 1st Lt. Hewitt H. Clark "Capt. Sheldon P. Hallett and I took off from Nadzab at 1130/L on the morning of 29 February 1944. Our mission was to patrol an area 40 miles out to sea from the coast above and below Tadji. Our route to the target was up the Markham-Ramu-Sepic [sic Sepik] valleys, keeping about 50 to 60 miles inland and at an altitude from 17,000 down to 13,000 feet in order to stay under the overcast." 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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