|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 13th AF 347th FG 339th FS |
Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 322-???? (four digits unknown). Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38G-13-LO Lightning serial number 43-???? (last four digits unknown). Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 347th Fighter Group (347th FG), 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS). Nose Number 125 in white. Nicknamed "Daisy 2nd" chalked on the nose. On March 29, 1943 took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt Rex G. Barber on a mission over Shortland Harbor Seaplane Base and strafed floatplanes. Departing, strafed a "destroyer" [sic Subchaser CH-28] and during the strafing run collided with the mast that damaged the left outer wing at the edge of the U.S. Star insignia. Despite the damage, Barber was able to maintain control and landed safely. For this mission, Barber earned an oak leaf cluster for his Silver Star. On March 30, 1943 Barber and fellow pilots from the strafing mission posed with the damage wing. Later, the left outer wing from P-38G "Old Ironsides" 43-2239 was used to repair this aircraft. Afterwards, the left side of the nose was painted with the silhouette of a ship silhouette outined by a white rectangle plus a row of three Japanese rising sun flags indicating Barber's aerial victory claims (as of April 7, 1943). Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38G-13-LO Lightning 13th Fighter Command in World War II (2004) Chapter 5 - Mission To The Shortlands by James F. Lansdale pages 123-125 (March 29, 1943) Chapter 8 - Yamamoto Mission pages 137-162 Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 P-38 |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
