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| USAAF 13th AF 347th FG 339th FS  USAAF 1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Raymond K. Hine, O-431436 (MIA / KIA) IN MIA April 18, 1943 MACR 599 / 609 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38G Lightning serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 347th Fighter Group (347th FG), 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engine and machine gun serial numbers were not listed in the Missing Air Crew Report 599 (MACR 599) or Missing Air Crew Report 609 (MACR 609). Mission History On April 18, 1943 at 7:25am took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt. Raymond K. Hine on the "Yamamoto Mission" flying northwest towards Kahili Airfield (Buin) on Bougainville. After spotting the enemy formation, P-38G 42-12690 piloted by 1st Lt Besby T. Holmes was unable to release his drop tanks, and P-38G piloted by Hine stayed with him, until he was able to release his tanks. This aircraft failed to return from the mission and was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA) in the Shortland area. MACR 599 states Hine was last seen by Major Mitchell four miles north of Shortland just above the sea with one engine smoking and three Zeros making firing passes. MACR 609 states Hine was last seen south of Shortland at 9:40am by Lt. Besby T. Holmes, seen trailing smoke or vapor from the left engine and headed in the direction of Wilson Strait to the southwest of Shortland. PBY Catalina of VP-44 piloted by Lt(jg) Harry Metke was flying a mission to supply coastwatchers on New Georgia and perform a rescue patrol USAAF mission of "unknown purpose and destination". Crew member AMM1c Charles Marsh recalled in 1994 that he observed a damaged P-38 with the the left engine feathered and bullet holes in the cowling. Possibly and likely, this was Hine's Lighting. The PBY contacted the Lightning, and it reported it was ok and had enough fuel to return to base. The PBY offered to rescue the pilot if he wanted to ditch, but instead the P-38 banked away, asked for a compass heading for Guadalcanal, and was never seen again. Search Afterwards, searches were made for Hine without results. No trace of his plane was ever found and he was never seen to crash. Search efforts ceased May 28, 1943. Memorials Hine was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Hine is memorialized at the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. Hine also has a memorial marker at Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park in Granger, IN and Glen Haven Cemetery in Harrison, OH. References Missing Air Crew Report 599 (MACR 599) created September 17, 1943 by Albert W. Price and incorrectly states the take off location as Henderson Field [sic, Fighter 2 (Kukum)]. Missing Air Crew Report 609 (MACR 609) created June 25, 1943 by John A. Nelson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Raymond K. Hine FindAGrave - 1Lt Raymond K Hine (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Lieut Raymond K. "Buddy" Hine (memorial marker) FindAGrave - Lt Raymond K Hine (memorial marker Glen Haven) 13th Fighter Command in World War II (2004) pages 145-148 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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 P-38  MIA 1 Missing |
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