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| RAAF 60 OBU Former Assignments 14 RSU 11 RSU 13 ARD No. 84 Squadron No. 3 AD  RAAF May 20, 2016 |
Pilot F/O Christopher V. Madigan, 408856 (KIA, BR) Middle Park, VIC Crashed November 15, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Contract W535-AC34423. Constructors Number 33804. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40N-40-CU serial number 44-47812. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History During February 1945, assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Kittyhawk serial number A29-1210. On February 7, 1945 assigned to No. 3 Air Depot (3 AD). On February 12, 1945 renumbered A29-1213. On March 27, 1945 assigned to No. 84 Squadron coded LB-T. On June 23, 1945 assigned to 13 ARD. On July 11, 1945 assigned to 14 RSU to the reserve aircraft pool. On August 1, 1945 assigned to 11 RSU. On September 27, 1945 returned to 14 RSU. On November 5, 1945 assigned to 60 OBU. Assigned to 14 Repair & Salvage Unit (14 RSU). This aircraft had two different serial numbers painted on the airframe. On the left side was serial number A29-1210. On the right side was serial number A29-1462. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On November 15, 1945 took off from Morotai piloted by F/O Christopher V. Madigan as part of a flight of eleven Kittyhawks escorted by two Beauforts bound for Wagga Wagga Airfield with the first leg of the flight to Tadji Airfield to refuel. While on the approach to land in pairs, this Kittyhawk slowed down, broke to the right in a left circuit and suffered a mid-air collision with P-40N Kittyhawk A29-527 hitting the propeller that damaged the tail of this plane causing it to flip over and crashed at Tadji, killing the pilot. The plane force landed and the pilot survived. Afterwards, this Kittyhawk was officially written off on December 7, 1945. Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of the pilot were recovered. Memorials Madigan was officially declared dead that day of the crash. He was permanently buried at Lae War Cemetery at GG. C. 1. He is also commemorated at Australian War Memorial (AWM) on panel 113. Wreckage This Kittyhawk remained in situ at Tadji until salvaged. Recovery This aircraft was salvaged from Tadji Airfield and shipped to Australia. During 1988-1998 the tail section of this P-40 plus cowling/parts from P-40E Warhawk 41-25119 were use in the restoration of P-40E Kittyhawk A29-28 part of the RAAF Museum at Point Cook collection. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40N-40-CU Warhawk 44-47812 ADF Serials - P-40N Kittyhawk A29-1210 WW2 Nominal Roll - Christopher Vincent Madigan CWGC - Christopher Vincent Madigan FindAGrave - Flying Officer Christopher Vincent Madigan (grave photo) FindAGrave - Christopher Vincent Madigan (AWM) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated June 19, 2024 |
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