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| USAAF 5th AF 35th FG 41st FS  Erick W. Kyro 1944 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Richard L. Mikiska (survived) 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 Airacobra serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 41st Fighter Squadron (41st FS) "The Flying Buzzsaws". No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On August 15, 1943 took off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Richard L. Mikiska on a escort mission over Tsili-Tsili. Over Tsili-Tsili Airfield, the formation was intercepted by Ki-43 Oscars and this aircraft was damaged and force landed at Tsili-Tsili Airfield. Mission History On August 15, 1943 took off from 7-Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Richard L. Mikiska a escort mission over Tsili-Tsili. Intercepted a formation of Japanese planes including twelve Ki-48 Lilys from 208th Hiko Sentai (208th Flying Regiment) escorted by twenty-two Ki-43 Oscars from 59th Hiko Sentai (59th Flying Regiment) and twelve Ki-43 Oscars from 24th Hiko Sentai (24th Flying Regiment). During the air combat, this Airacobra was damaged by Japanese gunfire and force landed at Tsili-Tsili Airfield. Afterwards, this Airacobra might have been repaired or written off. Ultimate fate unknown. Memorials Mikiska survived the Pacific War. He continued in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and served in the Korean War and Vietnam War and retired with the rank of Major. Mikiska passed away on October 6, 2008 at age 89. He is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona at section 61, site 864. References History 41st Fighter Squadron, August 15, 1943 FindAGrave - Richard L Mikiska (photo, grave photo) Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional information 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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