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| USAAF 5th AF 8th FG 35th FS  USAAF c1941 |
Pilot 2nd Lt Alva Guy Hawkins, O-431877 (survived) Zavalla, TX Ditched May 8, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-39F-1-BE Airacobra serial number 41-7188. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 35th Fighter Squadron (35th FS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On May 8, 1942 took from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt Alva Guy Hawkins as one of eight Airacobras from the 36th Fighter Squadron plus five Airacobra from the 35th Fighter Squadron during the early afternoon on a mission to intercept nine A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group) that took off from Lae Airfield on a fighter sweep over Port Moresby. After take off, the Airacobras managed to climb to 20,000' and dived into the Zero formation, initiating a dog fight that lasted approximately twenty minutes. During the combat, Hawkin's Airacobra was damaged by enemy gunfire and forced him to ditch onto the reef off Varivari Island near Caution Bay. In total, the Americans claimed four Zeros shot down but in fact none of the attacking Zeros were lost. The Japanese claimed three Airacobras by FPO1c Mototsuna Yoshida. Three probable Airacobras were claimed by Lt. Shiro Kawai, FPO2c Seiji Ishikawa, PFO1c Toru Oshima and FPO3c Masami Arai. Afterwards, the Zeros lingered over the Port Moresby for thirty minutes longer, but when no Allied planes challenged them, they departed the area at 3:20pm and returned to Lae Airfield at 4:30pm. Fate of the Pilot Hawkins survived the landing unhurt and returned to duty and continued flying combat missions until May 27, 1942 when he went missing in action (MIA) piloting P-39F 41-7153. Relatives Scott Thomas (great cousin of Hawkins) References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Alva G. Hawkins Kodochosho, Tainan Kōkūtai, May 8, 1942 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-39 Airacobra piloted by Hawkins Eagles of the Southern Sky page 107-108 On May 27, 1942, Hawkins went Missing In Action (MIA) on May 27, 1942 piloting P-39F 41-7153. Thanks to Scott Thomas for additional information 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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