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Pilot Lt. David R. McGovern (survived) Force Landed April 26, 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 41-7210. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 35th Fighter Squadron (35th FS). No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On April 26, 1942 took off from Woodstock Airfield piloted by Lt. William McGovern on a ferry flight flying via Carins Airfield at 9:30am to refuel then took off again bound for Horn Island Airfield before their final leg bound for 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. Flying in two flights, the formation experienced bad weather. This P-39 made a force landing south of Murdoch Point near Cooktown at roughly Lat 11 58.7 Long 143 14.2. Officially, this aircraft was condemned on condemned October 31, 1944. Fate of the Pilot McGovern survived the landing unhurt and was later rescued. The next day, P-40E Kittyhawk A29-69 piloted by Ellerton flipped upside down and crashed nearby while attempting to land wheels down on the same beach to render assistance to the downed American pilot. Ellerton was trapped in the cockpit and drown from the incoming tide. During May 1942, McGovern was credited with two aerial victories, his only claims during World War II. On May 2, 1942 he claimed a Zero. On May 10, 1942 he claimed a Zero over Port Moresby. By February 1943 he was promoted to the rank of Captain. By October 1943 he was promoted to the rank of Major. For his World War II service, he earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. Postwar, he continued in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and retired with the rank of Lt. Col. References Note, many sources list the name of the pilot as "Lt William McGovern" [sic]. In fact, the pilot was David R. McGovern. USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: McGovern, David R. page 128 (PDF page 135) USAF McGovern David R. Army Air Corps Library and Museum - 5th Air Force David R. McGovern USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-39F-1-BE Airacobra 41-7210 "7210 condemned Oct 31, 1944" FindAGrave - LTC David R. McGovern (grave photo) Oz@War - 26 April 1942 Ditching of Eleven P-39 Airacobras on Cape York in North Queensland 44 Days (2016) pages 220-222 FindAGrave - LTC David R. McGovern (photo) 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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