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| 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-10-LO Lightning serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 18th Fighter Group (18th FG), 44th Fighter Squadron (44th FS) "Vampire Squadron". No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engine (left) V1710-91 serial number 42-95323 (right) V1710-89 serial number 42-31409. Armed with 20mm cannon and four .50 caliber machine guns makers and 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) 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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