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Pilot 1st Lt. George L. Neater (KIA, BR) Council Bluffs, Iowa Crashed July 11, 1943 MACR none 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 to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) "Headhunters". No known nickname or nose art. During early July 1943 detached to Vivigani Airfield on Goodenough Island. Mission History On July 11, 1943 took off from Vivigani Airfield piloted 1st Lt. George L. Neater on a flight. While buzzing the runway, this P-38 accidentally hit a palm tree and truck then crashed, killing the pilot. Norbert "Norb" Ruff recalls in Ruff Stuff, pages 127-128: "A real nice, quite gentleman and a good officer born in Iowa. Flew a lot of missions in P-39s. As I remember he was flying Griffin's wing while in a two ship formation. Neater broke the rule of always flying like your element leader. They were buzzing the strip and he got a little below Griffin and took a palm tree before hitting a truck." Memorials Neater was officially declared dead the day of the mission. His is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Lincoln, NE. References Neater was assigned to the 80th Fighter Squadron during July 1942. Ruff Stuff (2006) pages 127-128 FindAGrave - Lieut George L Neater (grave 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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