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| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG 432nd FS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Jack F. Luddington, O-755978 (MIA / KIA) Ogden, UT MIA April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday" MACR 4499 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 2116. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38J-0-LO Lightning serial number 42-67605. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 432nd Fighter Squadron (432nd FS) "Clover". Tail number uknown, three digits in the range of 140–169. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines V-1710-91 and V-1710-89 serial numbers: 42-31319 and 42-95283. Armed with 20mm cannon maker unknown serial number 121681 (unclear) plus four .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers 196916, 197730, 496831 (unclear) and 416855 (unclear). Mission History On April 16, 1944 took off from Nadzab No. 3 Airfield a mission to escort A-20 Havocs over Hollandia. Returning the formation encountered a severe weather front. This P-38 was last seen approximately five miles west of Bogadjim at an altitude of roughly 10,000-11,000'. When this aircraft failed to return and was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search On April 17, 1944 at 9:50am, two P-38s piloted by Captain McAfee and Lt. Rieman took off from Nadzab No. 3 Airfield a mission to search for the missing planes from the squadron searching between Bogadjim and the head of the mountain valley and a reconnaissance of the western slopes of the Finisterre Range between Nadzab and Dumpu and the coastline between Bogadjim and Uligan Harbor. Before returning to base, the valley from Erima Harbor to Amaimon to Obulu was searched at minimum altitude. During the flight, no P-38s were sighted nor any parachutes but two A-20s were observed one near Uligan Harbor and another 25 miles northwest of Bogadjim. In addition, extensive searches were flown by other aircraft from the 5th Air Force in the general area. Memorials Luddington was officially declared dead on January 23, 1946. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Memory Grove Memorial in Salt Lake City, UT. Luddington also has another memorial marker at Ogden City Cemetery in Ogden, UT at plot P1 Q L 74. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38J-10-LO Lightning 42-67605 Missing Air Crew Report 4498 (MACR 4498) created April 18, 1944 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jack F. Luddington FindAGrave - Jack F Luddington (memorial marker Ogden City Cemetery, obituary) FindAGrave - 2LT Jack F Luddington (memorial marker Memory Grove Memorial photo) Obituary "Pilot Missing In New Guinea Area" 1944 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38J Lightning 42-67605 Black Sunday (2000) page ? Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated April 19, 2021
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 P-38  MIA 1 Missing |
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