Aircraft History
Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U. S. Army. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 49th Fighter Group, 8th Fighter Squadron. No known nose art or nickname.

Mission History
Took off from Port Moresby on a patrol mission over Cape Ward Hunt. At an altitude of between 5,000 - 6,000', the flight made a sharp turn to the left. During this turn, P-40E piloted by Hunter went under this P-40 making a cross-over in an element maneuver. Lt. Moose attempted to pull up, but impacted in the cockpit area. Both aircraft smoked and fell out of control into the sea about two miles offshore from Douglas Harbor.

Search
Afterwards, an intensive search was carried out but Lt. Moose was never found.

Memorials
Moose was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
49th Fighter Group History
Casualty File 1st Lt Robert A. Moose
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert A. Moose
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-40 Kittyhawk piloted by Moose

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Last Updated
February 4, 2018