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Pilot 1st Lt. Orland J. Harris (survived) Bearden, AR Crashed December 26, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number unknown (four digits). Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38L Lightning serial number 44-????? (last five digits unknown). Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia 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. Mission History On December 26, 1944 at 9:30pm took off from Hill Field on Mindoro piloted by 1st Lt. Orland J. Harris as one of eleven P-38s led by Captain Paul C. Murphey, Jr. on a strike against the Japanese task force in the Mindoro Strait west of Mindoro. Only four of the P-38s were armed with 500 pound or 1,000 pound bombs due to shortages of bombs. To avoid aerial collisions in the darkness, Murphey ordered the formation to turn on their formation lights. The weather was overcast from 2,500' to 5,000' with 10/10 cloud cover and less than one mine of visibility. Over the warships, the formation made low passes bombing and strafing in the darkness in the face of anti-aircraft fire. The squadron claimed four near misses with 500 pound bombs and individual planes conduct multiple strafing runs. Over the warships, Harris made three firing passes. On his fourth strafing run, Harris pressed his attack too closely and hit the superstructure of one of the warships. Damaged, his right engine caught fire and Harris immediately pulled up allowing him to open the cockpit canopy and bailed out over the wing as the P-38 turned and dove into the sea. Also damaged is P-38L "Dark Eyes" pilot 1st Lt. Kenneth B. Lloyd bailed out and survived. Fate of the Pilot After bailing out, Harris landed safely in the Mindoro Strait off Mindoro. As he inflated his life vest and raft, he saw a enemy warship approaching and feared he would be spotted but was not. Safe for the moment, he paddled towards shore. On December 27, 1944 in the morning he reached the shore and was returned to the squadron. For his role on the mission, Harris later earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Memorials For his World War II service, Harris earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Philippine Liberation Medal and Purple Heart. Harris died May 1, 2001 at age 78. He is buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Glenwood, Arkansas. References U.S. Army Air Force Distinguished Flying Cross, 1st Lt. Orland J. Harris citation "As Lt. Harris made his fourth pass against a destroyer his plane crashed through the superstructure and his right engine burst into flames. He gained altitude and bailed out though he landed in the water among the enemy warships. His life raft was not noticed and he was later rescued by friendly barge. The outstanding courage and Devotion to duty displayed by Lt. Harris during this flight are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United states army air forces." The Camden News "Orland Harris writes of War" January 17, 1945 page 1 The Camden News "Harris gets High award" September 4, 1945 page 1 "One night I was strafing a Jap warship. I had made several passes on it and had gotten away okay except for the feeling it gives you to see tracers flying all around you. The next pass I made was a little low. In fact it was so low that I flew into the ship. When I hit I was thrown forward by the force of the impact. The next thing I knew the engine on my right side was blazing and the bright flame kept me from seeing where I was going. I pulled back on the wheel, hoping the plane would go up instead of into a turn. The plane seemed okay except for the fire but it was so bright I [could not?] see out into the darker night. I pulled my canopy Loose and slid over the edge of the wing. When my chute opened I looked up and saw my pretty new P-38 start into a dive toward the ocean. The next minute I landed in the water and had no trouble getting out of my chute. I inflated my Mae West and started to get my boat when I noticed a Jap ship coming toward me. My chute was still floating and looked very white in the moonlight." Attack & Conquer (1995) by John Stanaway pages 226-227 (December 26, 1944 mission) American Headhunter (2019) pages 67-76 (December 26, 1944 mission) FindAGrave - Orland Jordan Harris (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 July 5, 2025
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