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| USAAF 5th AF 8th FG 80th FS |
Pilot F/O Robert M. Gentile, T-060795 (MIA / KIA) Middlesex County, MA MIA November 7, 1943 at 1:00pm MACR 1202 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. At the factory, completed with an unpainted aluminum finish with olive drab on the upper nose and inner sides of the engine nacelles for anti-glare. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38G-15-LO Lightning Serial Number 43-2386. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) "Headhunters". Nicknamed "Lil-De-Icer / G.I Annie". When lost, V-1710-55 and V-1710-89 serial number 42-32956 and 42-28960. Weapon serial numbers not noted in Missing Air Crew Report 1202 (MACR 1202). Mission History On November 7, 1943 took off from Kiriwina Airfield piloted by F/O Robert M. Gentile escorting B-24 Liberators on a bombing mission against Rabaul. As the formation reached Wide Bay, Gentile gave the "snafu" signal to abort the mission and asked to be escorted on the return flight. Returning, he was escorted by his element 1st Lt. Leland B. Blair roughly 30 miles south of Wide Bay before entering a bad weather overcast at 25,000'. Blair called to him on the radio to fly on his wing and try to fly around the weather. He did not get the radio message and flew into the weather at slow speed and was was seen south of St. George's Channel to the west of Wide Bay. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search Immediately after loosing Gentile, escorting Blair searched the area for 30 minutes before he returning to base alone. Afterwards, a routine search by American fighters and bombers in this locality failed to locate any trace of this plane or pilot. Memorials Gentile was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Gentile is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert M. Gentile Missing Air Crew Report 1202 (MACR 1202) created November 8, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert M. Gentile FindAGrave - FltOff Robert M Gentile (tablets of the missing photo) 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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 P-38  Map Nov 7, 1943  MIA 1 Missing |
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