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| USAAF 5th AF  c1980s  Walt Deas 2001 |
Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as either a P-38 Lightning model and serial number unknown or F-5 Lightning photographic reconnaissance version 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). Tail number 17. Possibly, this aircraft was P-38H Lightning assigned to the 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels" or less likely a F-5 Lightning assigned to the 6th Photographic Reconnaissance Group (6th PRG). Mission History This Lightning took off on a mission and likely crashed into Madang Harbor off Siar Island. Wreckage According to locals, the Japanese personnel dragged the downed aircraft ashore onto Siar Island. If this is accurate, this aircraft crashed sometime before late April 1944. By the 1980s, the wreckage consisted of a portion of the center fuselage with the numbers "17" visible, possibly traces of the tail number. Possibly, this aircraft could be associated with the loss of P-38H Lightning 42-66904 (MIA). Bruce Hoy adds: "I visit this site in the mid 1980s. The wreckage had blue paint, indicating it could have been a F5 [photo reconnaissance version of the] Lightning." Keith Hopper adds: "I have spoken to many long term PNG expatriates who have seen the wreckage during the 60's and 70's. They all say that it was a lot more intact in the early years. And yes I have heard the blue color scheme mentioned before. Simon Tawa the big man on Siar told me that it force landed in the water and was pulled ashore onto Siar Island by the Japanese. I think finding a 1950's or 60's photo would help us to solve this mystery. I am aware of many missing recon F-4's & F-5's in PNG, but none specifically mention Madang as the area of loss. The '17' on the tail would indicate 475th FG, if the third digit were missing/obscured (i.e. 17?). However, if we run with the F-5 theory, then the 8th PRS put the last two digits of the AAF Serial number on their aircraft, so we would be looking for an F-5 with 17 at the end of the serial number." Brian Bennett adds: "The 2001 photo doesn't really show that much in detail but what appears to be a fuel bladder can be seen. this is likely another case where the pilot may well be buried close by or be in the gondola in the water near by." References Bruce Hoy Diary April 25, 1971 The Bomber Reef (2005) by Walt Deas includes footage of this wreckage Thanks to Bruce Hoy, Keith Hopper and Brian Bennett for additional information Contribute
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