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| USAAF 5th AF 49th FG 7th FS |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Dean F. Burnett, O--727399 (MIA / KIA) CA MIA November 26, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40E Warhawk serial number 41-5645. On December 22, 1941 assigned to Project "X" then disassembled and shipped to overseas bound for the Philippines, but instead diverted to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG) "Fighting 49ers", 7th Fighter Squadron (7th FS) "Screamin' Demons". No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On November 26, 1942 took off from 3 Mile Drome (Kila) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Dean F. Burnett as one of fifteen P-40s on a mission to dive bomb and strafe Buna New Strip (New Strip) near Buna. Over the target, this P-40 was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed. It is unclear if this aircraft crashed near Buna Airfield or Buna village or into the bay off Buna. His body was never recovered. Memorials Burnett was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40E Warhawk 41-5645 "5645 (49th PG, 9th PS) condemned Nov 26, 1942, Port Moresby" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Dean F. Burnett FindAGrave - 2Lt Dean F Burnett PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-40 Kittyhawk piloted by Burnett states crashed near Buna Airfield Weekly Status and Operations Report (Form 34) November 22, 1942 - November 28, 1942 "11/26 7:10am mission I-1 dive bomb & strafe new strip at Buna (2) one plane was seen diving into ocean 12 to 15 a/a seen." 49th Fighter Group History, frame 400 Protect & Avenge (1995) pages 93-94 "The rookie pilot [Burnett] never made it through the murderous flak corridor over his target and his Warhawk exploded in a ball of fire when it slammed down on the shore north of the enemy held [Buna] village. The blast scattered the debris into the bay and Burnett's remains were forever lost." Thanks to Edward Rogers for research and analysis 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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