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Pilot 1st Lt. Gordon Whitaker, Jr., O-726866 (MIA / KIA) Wayne County, NC Crashed April 29, 1943 MACR 613 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 322-3327. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38G-13-LO Lightning serial number 43-2218. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 18th Fighter Group (18th FG), 12th Fighter Squadron (12th FS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines V-1710-55 serial numbers (left) 43-32018 (right) 42-2?368. Armed with a 20mm cannon and four .50 caliber machine guns. Weapon serial numbers not noted in Missing Air Crew Report 613 (MACR 613). Mission History On April 29, 1943 took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt. Gordon Whitaker, Jr. as one of two P-38 Lightning escorting a single F-5A Lighting on a photographic reconnaissance over Kahili Airfield (Buin) on southern Bougainville. The weather was reported as fair with poor visibility. During the mission, the escorting P-38s had considerable difficulty keeping up with the faster F-5A Lightning. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). In fact, this P-38 was shot down by an A6M Zero piloted by PO Sekiya of the 582 Kōkūtai (582 Air Group). Shot down, Whitaker bailed out roughly 45 miles west of Kieta on Bougainville near to off shore islands. Memorials Whitaker was officially declared dead on January 19, 1946. He earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Whitaker was officially declared non-recoverable on October 7, 1948. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References Previously, Whitaker flew the April 18, 1943 "Yamamoto Mission" as part of the first flight providing top cover, as section leader Kittel's wingman. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Gordon Whitaker, Jr. USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38G-13-LO Lightning 43-2218 "2218 (12th FS, 18th FG) lost Apr 29, 1943, Solomon Islands. MACR 613" Missing Air Crew Report 613 (MACR 613) (Page 2) "It is thought that his plane simply 'gave out'. He bailed out about 45 miles west of Keita on Bougainville and is thought to have parachuted safely. (page 5) Thought to have landed safely, in enemy territory, presumably somewhere on eastern half of island [Bougainville]" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gordon Whitaker Jr. FindAGrave - 1LT Gordon Whitaker Jr. (tablets of the missing photo) 13th Fighter Command in World War II (2004) pages 139, 148 Thanks to Richard Dunn 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
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