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| RAAF No. 75 Squadron |
Pilot W/O Francis Pentland Shelley, RAAF 402408 (MIA / KIA) Manly, NSW MIA August 11, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Constructors Number 18496. Originally intended for the Royal Air Force (RAF) as Kittyhawk Mark IA serial number ET621. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40E-1-CU Warhawk serial number 41-35975. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia as part of lend-lease and reassembled. Wartime History During May 1942 delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as P-40E Kittyhawk serial number A29-100. Assigned to No. 75 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On August 11, 1942 took off from Gurney Airfield (No. 1 Strip) piloted by W/O Francis Pentland Shelley as one of twenty-two P-40s from No. 75 Squadron and No. 76 Squadron intercepting Japanese aircraft attacking Milne Bay. This aircraft was flying in the formation's number 2 position to flight leader F/Lt F Coker. When the pair made contact with the Japanese aircraft, Coker lost contact with Shelley before entering a rain squall approximately four miles from base. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was P-40E Kittyhawk A29-84 (KIA), P-40E Kittyhawk A29-123 (KIA) and P-40E Kittykawk A29-93 (KIA). Memorials Shelley was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is commemorated at Bomana War Cemetery on the on the Port Moresby Memorial, panel 9. References Previously, P-40E-1-CU Warhawk 41-28184 was originally intended to be delivered to the RAAF as Kittyhawk A29-100, but this assignment was was canceled on April 28, 1942. USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40E-1 Warhawk 41-35975 "35975 (MSN 18496, ET621) to RAAF as A29-100 May 1942." CWGC - Francis Pentland Shelley FindAGrave - Warrant Officer Francis Pentland Shelley (Port Moresby Memorial) ADF Serials - Kittyhawk A29-100 "served with 75 Sqn; originally 41-28184 was allocated to this serial but was cancelled on 26/4/42 with 41-35975 (ex ET621) being allocated; on 14/5/42 issued to 75 Sqn from 2 AP; on 20/5/42 it was involved in an accident; on 11/8/42 it was part of 22 Kittyhawks from 75 & 76 Sqn that attacked a second Japanese raid just after midday and it took off from Fall River to intercept enemy aircraft and was last seen 4 miles from Fall River attacking enemy aircraft but W/O Francis Pentland Shelley (402408) failed to return and was declared MIA (most probably KIA)" Thanks to Daniel Leahy 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 October 16, 2023 |
 P-40  MIA 1 Missing |
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