Pacific Wrecks - P-40E Kittyhawk Serial Number A29-16

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

P-40E Kittyhawk Serial Number A29-16 Code Y

RAAF
No. 75 Squadron

Pilot F/O Bruce Horace Anderson, 260770 (MIA / KIA) Sydney, NSW
Crashed March 22, 1942

Aircraft History
Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40E Warhawk serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Wartime History
During March 1942 delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as P-40E Kittyhawk serial number A29-16. On March 8, 1942 assigned to 1 Air Depot (1 AD). On March 16, 1942 assigned to No. 75 Squadron. Fuselage code Y. No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On March 22, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by F/O Bruce Horace Anderson as one of nine P-40 Kittyhawks led by S/L John F. Jackson on a mission against Lae. Six Kittyhawks including this aircraft were to strafe Lae Airfieldwhile the other three flew top cover.

Over the target, intercepted by A6M2 Zeros from the 4th Kokutai (4th Air Group). While dog fighting with enemy aircraft, this Kittyhawk was last seen by P-40E Kittyhawk A29-6 smoking with an A6M2 Zero on its tail headed out to sea off Lae over the Huon Gulf.

Memorials
Anderson was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized at Lae War Cemetery on panel 6.

References
RAAF Casualty File Anderson, Bruce Horace (NAA: A705, 163/22/111)
WW2 Nominal Roll - Bruce Horace Anderson, 260770
ADF Serials - Kittyhawk A29-16
CWGC - Bruce Horace Anderson
FindAGrave - Flying Officer Bruce Horace Anderson
Flightpath Magazine "Yamazaki" by Michael Claringbould 2010
Thanks to Daniel Leahy for additional information

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Last Updated
April 10, 2021

P-40

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