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| USAAF 5th AF 49th FG 9th FS  9th FS via Cook 1943  9th FS via Cook 1943 |
Pilot Captain Harry E. Lidstrom, O-425569 (MIA / KIA, BR) Chicago, IL Crashed October 16, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number unknown. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38 Lightning serial number unknown. This aircraft was likely a P-38G or P-38H model. 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. This aircraft was assigned to Captain Harry E. Lidstrom and had a rectangle painted on the left side of the nose with a single Japanese rising sun flag indicating his victory claim on March 28, 1943 over Oro Bay. Mission History On October 16, 1943 took off from Dobodura piloted by Captain Harry E. Lidstrom on an escort mission over Madang. Returning, Lidstrom landed at Lae Airfield then took off again on a flight bound for Dobodura and disappeared. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Recovery of Remains After the crash, Lidstrom's remains were recovered by U.S. forces and buried in New Guinea. Postwar, his remains were transported to the Philippines for permanent burial. Memorials Lidstrom was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Manila American Cemetery at plot F row 12 grave 59. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harry E. Lidstrom Previously, Lidstrom force landed P-38G 42-12863 on February 20, 1943 at Huiva Plantation. On March 28, 1943 Lidstrom was credited with s single aerial victory over Oro Bay. Cosmopolitan "'Bing Bang' Bong and the Humpty Doos" by Bob Eunson June 1944 Vol 116 No. 6 page 60-61 We - Jack Purcell and I [Bob Eunson] - flew over the Owen Stanley Mountains to the jungle habitat of the Humpty Doos [9h Fighter Squadron] to see if we could find out what it takes to be a fighter pilot sans pareil.. now we are sitting in the little club of the Humpty Doos built of screen, cement and tin, in a jungle paradise... And there’s a shelf for the silver drinking mugs. Each pilot owns a handsome mug with his name engraved on the side. Mugs belonging to boys who have been killed or are missing are turned upside down. In that section you see names as Prince, Lidstrom, Love, Sells." USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Lidstrom Harry E. page 115 (PDF page 122), Alphabetical, by theater of operation (SWP) Lidstrom Harry E 03/28/43 page 340 (PDF page 346) 49th Fighter Group History, frame 534 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38 Lightning piloted by Lidstrom 16 October 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harry E. Lidstrom FindAGrave - Capt Harry E Lidstrom (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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