Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank, California. Constructors Number 2116. Assigned to the U. S. Army. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 475th Fighter Group, 432nd Fighter Squadron. Nose Number ???. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines V-1710-91 and V-1710-89 serial numbers: 42-31319 and 42-95283. Weapon serial numbers listed in MACR.

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'. 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.

Wreckage
Unknown.

Memorials
Hubner was officially declared dead on January 23, 1946. He is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. Luddington has a memorial marker at Memory Grove Memorial in Salt Lake City, UT. Luddington has another memorial marker at Ogden City Cemetery in Ogden, UT at plot P1 Q L 74.

References
Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 4498
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 page ?

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Last Updated
June 4, 2019