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| USAAF 5th AF 49th FG 9th FS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Henry J. Frank, O-763148 (POW, executed) Crashed September 11, 1944 at 2:15pm MACR 8967 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38J-20-LO Lightning serial number 44-23526. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) "The Flying Knights". No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines V1710-91 and V1710-89 serial numbers A-049195 and unknown. Weapon serial numbers listed in Missing Air Crew Report 8967 (MACR 8967). Wartime History On September 11, 1944 took off from Mokmer Drome on Biak Island at 11:25am one of eleven P-38s flying in three flights on a mission to dive bomb Liang Airfield on Ambon Island. This flight was led by P-38 piloted by 1st Lt. Raymond A. Nelson with this aircraft flying as his wingman. During the flight, bad weather diverted the formation to the Boela Oil Fields at Boela (Bula) their secondary target. Over the target at 2:15pm, this aircraft made a bombing run and a strafing run against buildings at Boela Airfield, attacking from west to east. Anti-aircraft ground fire, likely 12.7mm machine gun or 20mm cannon fire was observed around this P-38 causing both engines to catch fire. Damaged, this P-38 pulled up at Frank was observed to bail out at 1,500', then the aircraft stalled and fell off on the left wing before crashing northeast of the runway in the revetment area of Boela Airfield. Pilot Frank was observed to bail out by three other P-38 pilots including 1st Lt. Swift, 1st Lt. Nelson and 1st Lt. Krankowita. He was observed to land in a grove of trees 2,000' from the southeast end of the runway. Anti-aircraft fire was observed targeting his parachute as he descended. The P-38s from his flight circled the place he went down but were unable to observe him or the parachute, before departing for base. When Frank failed to return, he was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Fate of the Pilot Frank was captured by the Japanese and became a Prisoner Of War (POW). He was beheaded by Captain Kimura. Wreckage On August 20, 1946, a RAAF Searcher Team led by Ft Lt Belcher investigated this P-38 crash site, concluding it must have exploded in the air as the wreckage was spread over a wide area. Recovery of Remains After his remains were recovered, Frank was buried in India. Burial today unknown. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38J-20-LO Lightning 44-23526 "23526 (49th FG) lost Sep 11, 1944. MACR 8967" Missing Air Crew Report 8967 (MACR 8967) Missing Air Crew Report 11060 (MACR 11060) mentions this P-38 on page 16 Page 16: “(20 August) [1946] we inspected the crashed P38 on the airstrip at Boela. This plane must have exploded in the air because the wreckage was spread over a large area, F/O MILLER’s patrol report on BOELA refers.” 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 Sept 11, 1944  POW 1 Prisoners |
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