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| Chinese Air Force AVG |
Pilot William "Mac" McGarry (POW, survived) Crashed March 24, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Manufacture number 15452. Delivered as P-40B Warhawk. Originally intended for the Royal Air Force (RAF) with serial number AK500. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Assigned Nationalist Chinese Air Force (ROCAF) serial number P-8115. Wartime History Assigned to the American Volunteer Group (AVG), 2nd Squadron "Panda Bears" with fuselage number 69. No known nickname or nose art. This aircraft was often flown by pilots Bishop and Martin. Mission History On March 24, 1942 took off piloted by William "Mac" McGarry as one of four P-40s led by John Van Kuren "Scarsdale Jack" Newkirk from the 2nd Squadron on a strafing mission against Chiang Mai, following the main railroad line in search of targets to strafe. Over Chaing Mai, hit by anti-aircraft fire and bailed out over northern Thailand. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed was P-40B Warhawk P-8196 pilot John Van Kuren "Scarsdale" Newkirk (KIA). Fates of the Crew McGarry was captured and spent the remainder of the Pacific War in a Thai prison. Wreckage During the summer of 1991, this aircraft was discovered in the rain forest in the Chaing Mai area. Afterwards, the wreckage was recovered by the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF). Display This aircraft is displayed as a crash site diorama at Chiang Mai Air Force Base Museum. References NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File does not list William "Mac" McGarry as an official Prisoner Of War (POW) of the Japanese. Flying Tigers: Claire Chennault and His American Volunteers, 1941-1942 (2016) by Dan Ford includes this loss Warbird Forum - Mac McGarry, Down In Thailand Warbird Forum - Remains by Daniel Ford Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 30, 2024 |
 P-40  POW 1 Prisoner Survived |
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