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| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG 431st FS |
Pilot 2nd Lt Robert A. Koeck, O-760332 (MIA / KIA / BR) OH Crashed December 25, 1944 at 10:45am MACR 11887 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 422-5893. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38L-1-LO Lightning serial number 44-24846. This aircraft was unpainted with a natural aluminum finish. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS) "Hades". No known nose art or nickname. When lost engines V-1710-91 and V-1710-89 serial number A-058908 and A-057815. Weapon serial numbers listed in MACR. Mission History On December 25, 1944 took off from from Dulag Airfield on Leyte piloted by 2nd Lt Robert A. Koeck as one of fifteen P-38s on a fighter sweep and escort mission for B-24 Liberators bombing Mabalacat Field near Clark Field. Arrived over the target at 21,000' and were intercepted by 20 enemy fighters attacking from two directions. After the initial pass, Koeck was last seen in the vicinity of Clark Field in a low descending turn on an approximate heading of 150 degrees. Over the radio, a voice believed to be Lt. Enrique Provencio told Koeck to bail out. Also lost on the mission was P-38L 44-24889 pilot 1st Lt. Enrique Provencio and P-38L 44-24874 pilot 1st Lt. Floyd H. Fulkerson, Jr. (survived) Recovery of Remains After the crash, Koeck's body was recovered by Filipino guerrillas and buried at barrio Buena Angeles. Postwar, his remains were exhumed and transported to Manila for burial. Memorials Koeck was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Koeck was credited with two aerial victories on November 24, 1944 over Carigara Bay and Leyte. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart, posthumously. Koeck is buried in Manila American Cemetery at plot A row 13 grave 52. Relatives Nelson R. Koeck (nephew) adds: "I am trying to find out what his aircraft plane assignment number (111-139) and aircraft nickname or nose art." References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38L-1-LO Lightning 44-24846 "24846 (475th FG, 432st FS) MIA Dec 25, 1944. MACR 11887." Missing Air Crew Report 11887 (MACR 11887) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert A. Koeck FindAGrave - 2Lt Robert A Koeck (photos) Thanks to Nelson Koeck 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 April 19, 2021
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