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Pilot 2nd Lt. David E. Moore (survived) Crashed March 6, 1945 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 422-4556. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38J-20-LO Lightning serial number 44-23552. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF). No known nickname or nose art. During late September 1944, possibly assigned to Major Richard I. Bong of 5th Fighter Command (V Fighter Command), Headquarters (HQ Squadron) and flown on non-combat missions. Later, assigned to the 8th Service Group (8th SrG) to an unknown Service Squadron. Wartime History On March 6, 1945 took off from Nadzab Airfield piloted by 2nd Lt. David E. Moore. During the flight, this aircraft suffered an engine failure and crashed roughly 75 miles west of Nadzab. The pilot survived unhurt. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38J-20-LO Lightning 44-23552 USAAF Overseas Accident Reports - P-38J Lightning 44-23552 crashed due to engine failure March 6, 1945 The Missions and P-38 Lightnings of Richard I. Bong: A Synopsis (2002) page 47 (44-23552) (Page 47) "Dick [Major Richard I. Bong] had been flying a model-J or J's in late September on non-combat missions, the principal one of which was probably an assigned P-38J-20, S.N. 44-23552." Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated August 13, 2026 |
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