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| USAAF 5th AF 35th FG 39th FS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. James F. Steele, O-792172 (MIA / KIA) NC MIA July 16, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 222-7815. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38 Lightning serial model unknown. Likely, this plane was a P-38F-5-LO Lightning serial number 42-????? (last five digits unknown). 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). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On July 16, 1943 at 1:55pm took off from 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. James F. Steele as one of four P-38s escorting a single F-4 Lightning from 8th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron (8th PRS) on a reconnaissance mission over Madang. The four Lightnings were led by Lt. Denton with Lt. Andrews and Lt. Steele and 1st Lt. Morgan. Arriving over the target, P-38F 42-12650 piloted by Lt. George E. Morgan aborted the mission due to engine trouble and force landed but was later rescued. On the return flight, the formation encountered bad weather with extremely low visibility. P-38 piloted by Andrews landed at 30 Mile Drome (Rogers) while the other two piloted by Lt. Denton and Lt. Steele proceeded to Port Moresby flying at 6,000' altitude. Lt. Steele was last seen entering extremely bad weather at 6,000'. Radio tracked him over the mountains until 6:30pm when nothing further was received. It was presumed to have crashed due to bad weather or out of fuel in over mountains before reaching Port Moresby. When this plane failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Steele was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. Steele also has a memorial marker at Chestnut Hill Cemetery in Salisbury, NC. References 39th Fighter Squadron Diary - July 16-18, 1943 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38H Lightning piloted by Steele American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James F. Steele FindAGrave - 2LT James F Steele (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Lieut James F. Steele (memorial marker photo) CIL List page 11 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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