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| USAAF 13th AF 347th FG 68th FS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Andrew Capa, O-791279 (MIA / KIA) Hudson County, NJ MIA September 6, 1943 at 1:00pm MACR 690 Aircraft History Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-39N-5-BE Airacobra serial number 42-19022. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SOPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 347th Fighter Group (347th FG), 68th Fighter Squadron (68th FS). No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engine V-1710-85 serial number 42-98446. Weapon serial numbers not listed in Missing Air Crew Report 690 (MACR 690). Mission History On September 6, 1943 took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum Field) on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt. Andrew Capa on a strafing mission against Shortland, and afterwards would land at Segi Airfield on New Georgia. The weather was fair with scattered showers and broken overcast from 10-11,000'. At 1:00pm over the target area, several Zeros were nearby when this Airacobra was last seen at 4,000' altitude roughly two or three miles south of Magusaiai Island (Morgusaia). failed to return and was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was P-39N 42-18798 pilot F/O Buell F. Payne (MIA). 1st Lt. Joseph F Wehner statement in Missing Air Crew Report 690 (MACR 690) page 6: "I last saw Lt Capa at 4,000' two or three miles south west of Morgause Island [sic Magusaiai Island (Morgusaia)]. His plane was under control and was not burning, smoking nor appeared to be hit by enemy fire. There were several Zeros near him but his altitude at the time left every possibility for bailing out or making a safe water landing, in the event he was shot down. Unfortunately, I was hit by enemy fire at the time, was disabled and forced to return to base and did not see Lt. Capa again." Memorials Capa was declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and Purple Heart, posthumously. Capa is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Andrew Capa USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-39N-5-BE Airacobra 42-19022 "19022 (68th FS, 347th FG) lost Sep 6, 1943, Solomons. MACR 690" Missing Air Crew Report 690 (MACR 690) created September 18, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Andrew Capa FindAGrave - 1Lt Andrew Capa (tablets of the missing 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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 P-39  MIA 1 Missing |
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