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| USAAF 5th AF 71st TRG 110th TRS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Eugene L. Anderson, O-735730 (MIA / KIA, BR) Hennepin County, MN Crashed January 20, 1944 MACR 1783 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 42-19041. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (71st TRG), 110th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (110th TRS). When lost, engine V1710-85 serial number 42-97576. Armed with 37mm cannon, .50 caliber machine guns and .30 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers not listed Missing Air Crew Report 1783 (MACR 1783). Mission History On January 20, 1944 at 10:00am took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Eugene L. Anderson on a flight bound for Gusap Airfield. The weather was heavy clouds and overcast. Entering bad weather, Anderson became separated from the formation in the pass south of Daba and was never seen again. When this aircraft failed to return, it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA) as a non-battle casualty. In fact, this Airacobra crashed into a swamp near Kosipe. Recovery of Remains On January 22, 1944 the remains of the pilot was recovered from the wreckage and buried at near the rest house at Kosipe. Later, his remains were exhumed and transported to Bomana War Cemetery and reburied on May 30, 1944 then exhumed and transported to Australian and reburied on August 7, 1945 at Ipswich Cemetery (Ipswich USAF Cemetery Brisbane). Postwar, exhumed again and transported to Hawaii for permanent burial. Memorials Anderson was officially declared dead the day of the mission. On January 14, 1949 Anderson was buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot A grave 153. Wreckage During late September 2014, Robert Greinert, Graham Orphan, James Orphan and Michael Claringbould visited the crash site of a Airacobra reported to be this aircraft and photographed the tail painted white with traces of "219" visible on both sides and a yellow and red horizontal stripe at the tip of the tail. Also, one of the cockpit doors. During their visit, pieces of this Airacobra were recovered to Kosipe in a cargo net by helicopter and possibly removed and exported to Australia or New Zealand. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Eugene L. Anderson USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-39N-5-BE Airacobra 42-19041 Missing Air Crew Report 1783 (MACR 1783) incorrectly lists this Airacobra's serial number as "42-49041" this serial number is associated with an AT-6 Texan. The correct serial number is in fact 42-19041. PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-39 Airacobra piloted by Anderson FindAGrave - 2LT Eugene L Anderson (grave photo) Flightpath Magazine "Cobra in the Clouds" by Michael Claringbould May-June 2015 Volume 26, No. 4 pages 32-36 details the loss of 2nd Lt. William H. Melville and includes photographs of this Airacobra's door and tail with "219" visible. The article incorrectly identifies the wreckage as associated with Melville's loss on October 28, 1943 piloting P-39Q Airacobra 42-19959. 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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