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| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG 431st FS |
Pilot 2nd Lt John J. Durkin, O-7489321 (survived) Westfield, NJ Ditched November 8, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-5-LO Lightning serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia 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". Tail Number 117. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On November 8, 1943 took off from Kiriwina Airfield piloted by 2nd Lt John J. Durkin on a escort mission over Rabaul. Returning, this P-38 became lost in bad weather and ditched into Porlock Harbor near Cape Nelson on the north coast of New Guinea. He landed near USS Victoria (AO-46) at anchor. Rescue Durkin landed unhurt in the sea near USS Victoria (AO-46) and was immediately rescued. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John J. Durkin The Courier-Mail "Lifetime of thrills in 6 weeks' flying" by J. E. Vine, Courier-Mail War Correspondent, Friday 10 December 1943 "NEW GUINEA, Dec. 9. — A Lightning pilot, Lieut. John J. Durkin, of Westfield, New Jersey, began his New Guinea flying in late October. He has packed enough excitement into the six weeks which have passed since then to last most folk a lifetime. Eight days separated two crash landings — one into the sea, the other into a jungle swamp. For the first there was a naval craft [USS Victoria] conveniently at hand to rescue him from the water, but it took 18 days and a series of adventures to get him out of the second jam. Life proceeded smoothly for Lieut. Durkin. who is 23, until November 8. It was then that he made his Bismarck Sea landing off Cape Nelson, after his unit had been scattered by a vicious storm." Afterwards, on November 16, 1943 Durkin force landed P-38H "Hold Everything" 42-66826 and was later rescued. Flying Aces "War Flyers In The Headlines" April 1944 page 35 "Lt. John J. Durkin - For the second time, Second Lt. John J. Durkin of Westfield, N.J., has had his name crossed off the “missing list.” His first involved a rescue at sea, following a crash landing [this aircraft] in which he was first reported killed. His second adventure occurred only recently when he was attacked by Zeros [sic Oscars] while returning form a raid on Wewak. [P-38H Lightning 42-66826 force landed November 16, 1943]. FindAGrave - 1LT John Joseph Durkin (grave 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
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