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| USAAF 5th AF 35th FG 40th FS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Philip Wolf, O-795009 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL MIA November 26, 1943 MACR 1255 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 42-19050. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 40th Fighter Squadron (40th FS) "The Red Devils". No known nickname or nose art. When lost engine V-1710-85 serial number 42-97503. Armed with 37mm cannon serial number 1286 plus four .30 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers 134950, 138903, 419649 and 135433 plus two .50 caliber machine guns makers unknown serial numbers 138901 and 419790. Mission History On November 26, 1943 took off from Nadzab Airfield No. 1 Strip piloted by 1st Lt. Philip Wolf flying as no. 4 in a flight of four Airacobras including element leader 1st Lt. David A. Pardy and Lt. Doordan. on a patrol mission over the Lae-Kaiapit area. The weather was very hazy with limited visibility over the target area. Last seen at 11:30am roughly 10-12 miles due north of Raiss Point on the north coast New Guinea when Japanese bombers escorted by fighters were spotted at 5 o'clock high. Immediately, the formation turned left and dove down parallel to the coast pulling out at 6,000' and Wolf was never seen again nor was he heard on the radio. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search When Wolf was seen to be missing, his element leader 1st Lt. David A. Pardy circled to look for him before returning home. Afterwards, a search mission was flown by four Airacobras from the squadron that took off at 4:27pm and escorted a PBY Catalina that searched for the missing pilot until 7:35pm searching at an altitude of 6,000' to 50' with clear and unlimited visibility without result. The search was coordinated by Captain William F. McDonough without result. Memorials Wolf earned Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters; Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-39N-5-BE Airacobra 42-19045 "19045 (35th FG) lost Nov 26, 1943, New Guinea. MACR 1255" Missing Air Crew Report 1255 (MACR 1255) created December 1, 1943 40th Fighter / Flight Test Squadron Associate "WWII Honor Roll" via Wayback Machine July 23, 2008 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Philip Wolf FindAGrave - 1LT Philip Wolf (tablets of the missing) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 18, 2025
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