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| USAAF 13th AF 18th FG 44th FS "Vampire Squadron" |
Pilot 1st Lt. Andrew J. Borders, Jr. (POW, executed March 5 1944, BR) Jefferson County, AL Crashed September 14, 1943 MACR 623 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss as a model H87-B3 in Buffalo, New York during 1941. This aircraft was the 508 of 699 P-40Fs powered by a Rolls Royce Merlin engine with a shorter fuselage. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40F Warhawk serial number 41-14107. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SOPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 18th Fighter Group (18th FG), 44th Fighter Squadron "Vampire Squadron" (44th FS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On September 14, 1943 took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt. Andrew J. Borders, Jr. on mission to escort B-24 bombing Kahili Airfield on Bougainville. Weather was good with clear visibility. Over the target, intercepted by A6M Zeros and shot down, last seen over Bougainville at at 12:20pm. When this aircraft failed to return, Borders was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Fates of the Crew Borders was captured by the Japanese and became a Prisoner Of War (POW). He was transported to Rabaul and detained as a prisoner at Tunnel Hill POW Camp until March 3-4, 1944 when he was executed during the Tunnel Hill massacre. Afterwards, the Japanese cremated his remains and placed the together in one box. Recovery of Remains Postwar, the remains of those executed in the Tunnel Hill massacre were recovered by the Allies, The remains were divided: 3/4 to the Americans and 1/4 to Australians. The remains were transported to the United States aboard USAT Albert M. Boe as part of remains shipment SF-167-R. Memorials Borders was officially declared dead on March 5, 1944. After his remains were recovered and transported to the Untied States, he was buried on March 21, 1950 at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in a group burial at section 78 graves 930-934. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Andrew J. Borders, Jr. USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40F Warhawk 41-14107 "14107 (44th FS, 18th FG) MIA Sep 14, 1943, Solomons. MACR 623" Missing Air Crew Report 623 (MACR 623) NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Andrew J. Borders, Jr. FindAGrave - Andrew J Borders, Jr (group burial photo) The Siege of Rabaul (1996) by Henry Sakaida pages 19 (footnote 12 - Tunnel Hill Massacre), 93 (Rabaul's Military Prisoners - Borders 70th FS [verify]) Thanks to Henry Sakaida 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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 P-40  POW 1 Prisoner Executed |
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