Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank, California. Delivered to the U. S. Army. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 475th Fighter Group, 432nd Fighter Squadron. No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
Took off from San Pablo Airfield on Leyte at 8:15 on a scramble mission. At 9:10am flying at 10,000' the formation was intercepted by twelve Ki-61 Tonys flying eastward in close formation. The P-38s made a first pass from the right rear and claimed an enemy aircraft shot down. While turning for a second pass, this P-38 collided with P-38L 44-23957 over Ormoc Bay west of Leyte, Laseter did not exit his aircraft and was declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorial
Laseter was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized on the tablets of the mission at Manila Amercia Cemetery.

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Last Updated
September 25, 2018