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| USAAF 5th AF 8th FG 80th FS  USAAF 1942 |
Pilot F/O Willis F. Evers, T-001043 (MIA / KIA)
Hildreth, NB Crashed November 2, 1943 MACR 1178 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 322-3312. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38G-13-LO Lightning serial number 43-2203. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS). No known nickname or nose art. Nose letter "E" in yellow. Both propeller spinners were painted green. Assigned to pilot Captain George S. Welch with his name on the right side of the nose with a scoreboard with ten Japanese rising sun flags in four rows (3, 3, 2, 2). Assigned to crew chief SSgt Lawrence and Cpl White. When lost, engines V-1710-55 and V-1710-51 serial numbers 42-29464 and 42-93242. Armed with a 20mm cannon and four .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On November 2, 1943 took off from Kiriwina Airfield piloted by F/O Willis F. Evers on a mission to escort B-25D Mitchells over Rabaul. Inbound to the target, the weather was closing in over the target and rain squalls and heavy clouds. Evers was flying as wing man for element leader 2nd Lt. Louis Schriber in the first flight. This P-38 was last sighted at 1:30pm over Rabaul by P-38 pilot 2nd Lt. Louis Schriber, before an engagement with 50-60 enemy fighters. Missing Air Crew Report 1178 lists his loss location as south of Ralauna Point (Raluana Point) inland from the southern coast of Blanche Bay. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Schriber noted in Missing Air Crew Report 1178 (MACR 1178) page 9: "I was the element leader in the first flight and F/O Evers was flying my wing. We encountered approximately fifty to sixty enemy fighters in the Rabaul area. The last time I saw F/O Evers was when we dove into some enemy fighters. After this attack which took place at approximately 4,000', I could not see F/O Evers anywhere." Search No specific search was ever made for this aircraft, aside from routine flights by Allied bombers and fighters. Wreckage This P-38 impacted at high speed causing an impact crater with only a few pieces of wreckage left on the surface. The engines and cockpit section were buried 12-15' underground. Recovery of Remains During 1986 the crash site was visited by CILHI and excavated further, coded CIL 0082-86. Pieces of wreckage were recovered to Kokopo. Brian Bennett adds: "I was on another recovery at that time and the team split to go and do the Evers site. I have never been back to the crash site since I was there with Norrie [curator Kokopo Museum] on that Saturday afternoon." In 1989, the recovered remains were identified as Evers by the Department of Defense (DoD). Memorials Evers was officially declared dead on December 15, 1945. He earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After he was identified in 1989, a rosette was added next to his name to indicate he was accounted for. In 1945, a memorial marker for Evers was placed at Saint Peters Cemetery, Hildreth Nebraska. After his remains were identified in 1989, he was laid to rest to the right of his parents: John Evers and Lena Johanna (née Buss) Evers. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Willis F. Evers USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38G-13-LO Lightning 43-2203 "2203 (8th FG, 80th FS) shot down near Rabaul, New Guinea Nov 2, 1943. MACR 1178. Pilot KIA. Wreck found in 1986" Missing Air Crew Report 1178 (MACR 1178) created November 4, 1943 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38G Lightning 43-2203 Recommended Recovery Sites (PNG-1986) via Brian Bennett "7. P-38G/43-2203 A. This site is accessible by road from Rabaul. Discovered in 1985 by Brian Bennett it has never been visited by CILHI personnel. B. Crew member is currently listed as MIA." P-38 Lightning Aces 1942-43 (2014) pages 39 (photo), 55 (profile 18 P-38G 44-2203), 94 (profile 18 description) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Willis F. Evers "Remains recovered" FindAGrave - FltOff Willis F Evers (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Willis Frederick Evers (photo, memorial marker) Thanks to Brian Bennett and Bruce Hoy for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated April 28, 2025
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 P-38  Photo Archive  Map Nov 2, 1943  MIA1 Missing Resolved |
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