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| USAAF 5th AF 8th FG 36th FS |
Pilot Captain Kenneth G. Ladd, O-732277 C.O. 36th FS (MIA / KIA ) UT MIA October 15, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38L Lightning serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 36th Fighter Squadron (36th FS). Assigned to pilot Kenneth G. Ladd. Nicknamed "Nulli Secundus", Latin for "Second to None". Mission History On October 15, 1944 took off piloted by Captain Kenneth G. Ladd on a mission to escort B-24 Liberator on a mission against Balikpapan. Over the target, the escorting P-38s intercepted Ki-44 Tojos to keep them away from the bombers. One B-24 crew said a Lighting was observed to turn into the enemy formation and was overwhelmed and it was observed spinning downward and was presumed to be Ladd. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Ladd was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Silver Star, Air Medal with seven Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Ladd is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Memory Grove Memorial in Salt Lake City, UT. Search For the next four days, pilots from the 36th Fighter Squadron unsuccessfully searched for Ladd. References Ladd was officially credited with 11 victories: 17 Dec 43, 29 Jul 43, 2 Sep 43, 15 Sep 43, 13 Dec 43, 17 Dec 43, 26 Dec 43 (double victory), 23 Jan 44, 31 Mar 44, 3 Apr 44. He later became commanding officer of the 8th Fighter Group, 36th Fighter Squadron. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kenneth G. Ladd FindAGrave - Capt Kenneth G Ladd (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Capt Kenneth G Ladd (photo, memorial marker photo) 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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