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| USAAF 5th AF 35th FG 39th FS |
Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 222-70?? (last two digits unknown, likely 222-7074). Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38F-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-126?? (last two digits unknown, likely 42-12640). Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS) "Cobra In The Clouds". Squadron number 26 was painted in white on the left and right side of the nose. Assigned to pilot Lt. Richard E. Smith who nicknamed the plane "The Japanese Sandman" in stylized capital letters with the left side of the nose. Below the left side of the cockpit was "Lt. R. E. Smith" and a scoreboard with six Japanese rising sun flags representing Smith's aerial victory claims (as of July 23, 1943). Mission History On April 12, 1943 took off from 14 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by a 39th Fighter Squadron pilot (not Lt. Richard E. Smith) in a rush to scramble to intercept the Japanese air raid against Port Moresby. During the flight, this P-38 suffered engine damage from high rev stress and after landing required repairs or engine changes. On July 21, 1943 took off 14 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Lt. Richard E. Smith on a patrol mission over Bogadjim. Over the Ramu Valley to the Madang area, Smith claimed two Ki-61 Tonys shot down, his fourth and fifth aerial victory claims and became an ace. On July 23, 1943 took off 14 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Lt. Richard E. Smith on a patrol mission off the north coast of New Guinea. Roughly eight miles south of Lae over the Huon Gulf he claimed a Ki-43 Oscar shot down, his sixth aerial victory claim. Sometime after late July 1943, Smith was assigned P-38H "Japanese Sandman II" 42-66905. The ultimate fate of this plane is unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38F-5-LO Lightning 42-12640 Stars & Bars (1995) pages 33-34 (39th FS, Smith), 565 (Smith, Richard Eugene Snuffy) Thanks to Richard E. Smith, Bruce Hoy, Edward Rogers and Keith Hopper for additional information Contribute
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