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| USAAF 13th AF 347th FG 67th FS |
Pilot Major Orval B. Collins, O-428475 (MIA / KIA) KS MIA March 21, 1944 MACR 16494 Aircraft History Built by Bell. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-39 Airacobra model and serial number are unknown. Likely, P-39Q Airacobra or P-39N Airacobra. 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), 67th Fighter Squadron (67th FS). No known nickname, nose art or markings. Mission History On March 21, 1944 took off from Green Island Airfield (Nissan) piloted by Major Orval B. Collins with a single bomb on a dive bombing mission against Lakunai Airfield at Rabaul. Over the target, the tail of this aircraft was seen to disintegrate while pulling out of a dive, caught fire and crashed over the target. When this aircraft failed to return, the pilot was declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Collins was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Umatilla Cemetery in Umatilla, FL. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Orval B. Collins Missing Air Crew Report 16494 (MACR 16494) 67th Fighter Squadron March 1944 page 2: "(14) 21 March: Major Orval B. Collins killed on mission over Lakunai Airdrome, Rabaul City." page 3 "c. 21 March: Major Collins crashed on Lakunai Airdrome, Rabaul City, while on dive bombing mission. On the pull out his tail was seen to disintegrate. The plane then caught fire and crashed." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Orval B. Collins FindAGrave - Maj Orval B Collins (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Orval B. Collins (memorial marker) 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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