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  P-39N Airacobra Serial Number ?  
USAAF
5th AF
35th FG
41st FS

Pilot  Captain George A. Hilbert, Jr. (survived) Baltimore, MD
Crashed  August 15, 1943
MACR  none

Aircraft History
Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-39N serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australian and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 41st Fighter Squadron (41st FS). No known nose art or nickname.

Mission History
On August 15, 1943 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by Captain George A. Hilbert, Jr. on a escort mission over Tsili-Tsili. Intercepted by Ki-43 Oscars over Tsili-Tsili Airfield and shot down. After bailing out, other Airacobras protected him as he descended in his parachute then landed safely in kunai grass.

Rescue
Later, an Australian Army patrol reached him and he returned to duty.

Memorials
Hilbert passed away on June 14, 1998 at age 81 in Kilmarnock, VA. He is buried at Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore, MD.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George A. Hilbert, Jr.

PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-39 Airacobra piloted by Hilbert
FindAGrave - George A Hilbert Jr. (grave photos)
Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional information

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Last Updated
November 30, 2024

 

Tech Info
P-39
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