Pilot 2nd Lt Frank E. Angier, O-428461 (survived)
Crashed July 20, 1942
MACR none
Aircraft History
Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-39D-15-BE Airacobra serial number 41-6783. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.
Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 8th Fighter Group, Headquarters Squadron. Later, assigned to the 35th Fighter Group, 39th Fighter Squadron. No known nose art or nickname.
Mission History
On July 20, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Angier on a mission over the Cape Nelson area. Over the target, Angier bailed out at low altitude and Angier's parachute opened only a second before his landed unhurt in the jungle of Cape Nelson at roughly Lat 9° 9' Long 149° 14'. When he failed to return from the mission, Angiers was listed as Missing In Action (MIA).
Fate of the Pilot
Angier was transported back to Port Moresby and returned to the squadron. In 2011, he was retired with the rank of Colonel living in retirement in Tulsa, OK.
References
RAAF Searcher S/L Keith Rundle incorrectly lists this aircraft as MIA
39th FS lists Angier as 'returned to military control'.
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-39D Airacobra 41-6783
Frank E Angier interview at 39th Fighter Squadron reunion at Dayton, Ohio in 2006 by Kenneth Tilley
Thanks to Edward Rogers, Paul Diggs and Kenneth Tilley additional information
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Last Updated
February 18, 2020
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