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  P-38J-10-LO Lightning Serial Number ?  
USAAF
13th AF
18th FG
44th FS

Pilot  2nd Lt. John M. Munson, O-749571 (MIA / KIA) Mineola, NY
MIA  January 17, 1944
MACR  1777

Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38J Lightning serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 13th Air Force, 18th Fighter Group, 44th Fighter Squadron. No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engine (left) V1710-91 serial number 42-95323 (right) V1710-89 serial number 42-31409. Weapon serial numbers unknown.

Mission History
On January 17, 1944 took off from Stirling Airfield piloted by 2nd Lt. John M. Munson on a mission to escort bombers over Rabaul. Weather was cloudy over the target area with fair visibility. This P-38 was last seen by P-38 piloted by 2nd Lt. John E. Zink over Blanche Bay at 14:00. When this P-38 failed to return it was declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
Munson was officially declared dead on January 16, 1946. He earned the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at the at Honolulu Cemetery (Punchbowl) at the courts of the missing on court 7.

References
Missing Air Crew Report 1777 (MACR 1777)
NARA HQ 18th Fighter Group January 1 – February 29, 1944 (USAF Historical Research Agency IRSUM: 78048)
{Page 5) "January 17, 1944 44th Fighter Squadron - Our loss: 1st Lt. Earl R. Heckler, Munson, Snell, reported missing in action. 2nd Lt. Theodore Schoettel, killed in action."
"Killed Lieut. Munson Reported Dead: Fighter pilot of Mineola listed as missing in action Jan. 17"
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John M. Munson

FindAGrave - 2Lt John M Munson (news, courts of the missing photo)

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Last Updated
April 15, 2021

 

Technical Info
P-38

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
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