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| USAAF 5th AF 49th FG 9th FS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Arthur R. Bauhof, O-724508 (MIA / KIA) Wichita Falls, TX Crashed May 14, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38 Lightning serial number unknown. Likely this aircraft was a P-38G Lightning or P-38H Lightning. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On May 14, 1943 took off from Dobodura piloted by 1st Lt. Arthur R. Bauhof on a mission to intercept an incoming Japanese air raid. Intercepted by Japanese fighters, this P-38 received a burst of machine gun fire to its right engine. Bauhof bailed out and the aircraft crashed into the sea roughly 20 miles east of Cape Sudest off Oro Bay. Afterwards, friendly aircraft observed the parachutist swimming in the sea and being attacked by sharks. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Fate of the Pilot An American crash boat immediatly went out to rescue Bauhof but no trace of him was found. Memorials Bauhof was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Bauhof is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Arthur R. Bauhof Previously, Bauhof survived the force landing of P-38G Lighting 42-12866 on February 20, 1943 49th Fighter Group History, frame 480 Pilot Roster, 9th Fighter Squadron 1942-1943 via Edward Rogers PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38 Lightning piloted by Bauhof 14 May 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Arthur R. Bauhof FindAGrave - 1Lt Arthur Ray Bauhof (photo, tablets of the missing photo) Thanks to Keith Hopper 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 28, 2025
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 P-38  MIA 1 Missing |
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