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| RNZAF No. 16 Squadron |
Pilot Flight Lieutenant John O. McFarlane, 402881 (MIA / KIA) Auckland, NZ MIA December 17, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Constructor Number 28779. U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40N-5-CU Warhawk serial number 42-105017. Disassembled and shipped overseas to New Zealand as part of defense aid. Wartime History Assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as P-40N Kittyhawk IV serial number NZ3175. On August 16, 1943 reassembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot and BOC at Hobsonville Airfield. Assigned to No. 16 Squadron coded 65. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On December 17, 1943 at 5:30am took off from Ondonga Airfield on New Georgia piloted by Flight Lieutenant John O. McFarlane as 1st section, no. 4 as one of 12 Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron plus 12 Kittyhawks from No. 14 Squadron the flew to Torokina Airfield on Bougainville to refuel. At 9:00am the twelve Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron took off on a fighter sweep and departed bound for Rabaul. Meanwhile, the Kittyhawks from No. 14 Squadron were delayed while two P-39 Airacobras made an emergency landing and took off later. Due to a miscommunication, the twelve P-40N Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron did not wait for the rest of the formation and the RNZAF fighters proceeded to the target in two separate groups. This was the RNZAF first major air operation in the South Pacific (SoPAC). The formation of 77 Allied fighters included the 24 Kittyhawks and were joined by twenty-two U.S. Navy F6F Hellcats and thirty-one U.S. Marine Corps F4U Corsairs. This was the RNZAF first major air operation in the South Pacific (SoPAC). Inbound to the target, two Kittyhawks from No. 16 Squadron aborted the mission due to to mechanical problems, leaving 75 fighters that proceeded to the target. They intended to lure Japanese fighters into air combat and shoot down as many as possible ahead of a bombing mission planned for the next day. Over the target, McFarlane was flying as wingman for element leader FtLt M. T. Vanderpump who dove into eight Zekes above shipping in the harbor. Vanderpump shot down a Zeke, then chases a Zeke attacking McFarlane, both escaping by diving through intense anti-aircraft over Rabaul, McFarlane was hit and crashed near Praed Point. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). On January 31, 1944 this P-40 was officially written off books. A total of three P-40s and two pilots were lost: this aircraft plus P-40N Kittyhawk NZ3153 pilot Wing Commander Trevor O. Freeman (MIA) over southern New Ireland. A total of nine Japanese planes were claimed shot down by the Allies including five by RNZAF Kittyhawks and four by U.S. Navy planes. Fate of the Pilot In fact, McFarlane likely collided with A6M Zero piloted by Seaman Masajiro Kawato from 253 Kōkūtai (253 Air Group). Both pilots managed to bail out and were rescued by a Japanese patrol boat. McFarlane became a Prisoner Of War (POW) but did not survive captivity until the end of the Pacific War and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials McFarlane was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized at Bourail War Cemetery on the Bourail Memorial, panel 3. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-40N-5-CU Warhawk 42-105017 "105017 (MSN 28779) to New Zealand as NZ3175. Assembled by No.1 Aircraft Depot, Hobsonville and BoC at Hobsonville on 16 August 1943. Coded "65". To No.16 Squadron. Crashed near Praed Point on 17 December 1943. The aircraft was shot down by enemy fighters during a fighter sweep to Rabaul." ADF Serials Kittyhawk NZ3175 CWGC - John Osborne McFarlane Auckland Memorial Online Cenotaph - John Osbourne McFarlane Air To Air The Story Behind the air-to-air combat claims of the RNZAF (2003) pages 177 (photo), 208-216 (December 17, 1943), 402 (index McFarlane), 402 (index McFarlane), 404 (index NZ3175) South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 507-509 (December 17, 1943), 585 (index McFarlane) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 20, 2024 |
 P-40  MIA 1 Missing |
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