|  |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG 432nd FS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. William A. Elliott, O-757968 (MIA / KIA) Santa Clara County, CA MIA July 28, 1944 MACR 8642 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 2298. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38J-10-LO Lightning 42-67787. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SOPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group ( 475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 432nd Fighter Squadron (433nd FS) "Clover". Squadron Number 169 in white. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines V-1710-89 and V-1710-91 serial numbers 42-95306 and 42-31422. Armed with 20mm cannon made by International Harvester serial number 118745 plus .50 caliber machine guns made by Savage serial numbers 561067, 561128, 930105 and Colt serial number 746768. Mission History On July 28, 1944 took off from Noemfoor Island piloted by 2nd Lt. William A. Elliott with call sign "Clover 169" as part of "Clover Flight" on a cross country flight bound for Mokmer Drome on Biak. The weather was solid cumulus overcast at 7,000' with heavy rains. During the flight, this P-38 ran out of fuel while off course and was in radio contact by radio with 2nd Lt. Charles F. O'Connor a controller with the 33rd Fighter Sector call sign "Linger Crystal" before saying the plane only had five minutes of fuel left then would ditch at 11:00am. His approximate position was east of Biak. When this plane failed to arrive it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). At the time of the loss, it was believed he survived the ditching. Search On July 29, 1944 a search mission was flown by eight P-38s that flew the area where he was presumed lost with nil sightings. Meanwhile, 5th Air Force Air-Sea Rescue also searched in approximately the same area without results. Memorials Elliott was officially declared dead February 12, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Elliott also has a memorial marker at Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, CA in section P on the back of his parents grave. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William A. Elliott USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38J-10-LO Lightning 42-67787 "67787 (475th FG, 432nd FS) ditched Jun 16, 1944" Missing Air Crew Report 8642 (MACR 8642) created July 31, 1944 (Page 2) lists the point of departure was Noemfoor Island, likely Kamiri Airfield on that was repaired and operational by the middle of July 1944 but not yet fully completed. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William A. Elliott FindAGrave - 2Lt William A Elliott (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - William A Elliott (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 November 19, 2025
|
 P-38  Map July 28, 1944  MIA 1 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
