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| USAAF 5th AF 8th FG 35th FS  Robinson June 1, 1942 |
Pilot 2nd Lt Gentry R. Plunkett, Jr. (survived) Lynchburg, VA Crashed June 1, 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 41-7116. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Aircraft History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 35th Fighter Squadron (35th FS). No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On June 1, 1942 at 11:05am took off from Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt Gentry R. Plunkett, Jr. as one of thirteen Airacobras on a mission to intercept a Japanese formation of 18 bombers escorted by A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kokutai. During the air combat, this Airacobra was shot down near the sea to the northwest of Port Moresby. Fates of the Pilot Plunkett was seriously injured and found by villagers on the beach. Afterwards, they aided him to return to Port Moresby on June 4, 1942. Memorials Plunkett passed away on October 28, 1994 at age 76. He is buried at Presbyterian Cemetery in Lynchburg, VA. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Gentry R. Plunkett, Jr. USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-39F-1-BE Airacobra 41-7194 FindAGrave - Gentry Rawlings Plunkett Jr. (grave photo) The Fight For New Guinea (1943) cover artwork, pages 59-61 "Lieutenant Gentry Plunkett, a tall blond kid from Lynchburg, Va., was one of the first of our pursuit pilots to be shot down by a Zero, an it is hardly likely that this war will produce more gruesome, terrifying experiences than he had with a crocodile in the jungles of New Guinea." Eagles of the Southern Sky (2012) pages 175–178 (June 1, 1942) 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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