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| USAAF 13th AF 18th FG 44th FS "Vampire Squadron"  USAAF 1942 |
Pilot Flight Officer Andrew E. Murray, T-060167 (MIA / KIA) Shreveport, LA MIA July 15, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40 Warhawk model and serial number unknown. Likely, this aircraft was either a P-40M Warhawk or his assigned P-40F "Katy Jane" 41-19843. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SOPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 18th Fighter Group (18th FG), 44th Fighter Squadron "Vampire Squadron" (44th FS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On July 15, 1943 took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal piloted by F/O Andrew E. Murray on a patrol mission over Rendova and New Georgia. Although two flights took off only seven P-40s led by 1st Lt. Frank Gaunt with Flight Officer Andrew E. Murray flying as his wingman. Over the radio, VF-21 reported an incoming formation of Japanese bombers escorted by A6M Zeros over Kolombangara Island and the 44th Fighter Squadron climbed to intercept. Also intercepting were F4F Wildcats from U.S. Navy (USN) Fighter Squadron 21 (VF-21) "Freelancers" and F4U Corsairs from U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) Marine Fighting Squadron 213 (VMF-213) "Hell Hawks". At 2:30pm at an altitude of 16,000', the P-40s and a single F4U Corsair from a Marine squadron sighted a formation of bombers escorted by Zeros over Vella Lavella and engaged in a dogfight down to sea level off the coast of Ghizo Island. During the air combat, 1st Lt Frank Gaunt noticed a Zero on the tail of Murray's aircraft and turned to shoot it down and almost collided with it, but was too late and observed Murray's P-40 going down on fire. When this aircraft failed to return, Murray was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost were F4F Wildcat 12059 (MIA) and F4U Corsair 02599 (MIA). Memorials Murray was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart He is memorialized at the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Relatives Katy J. Murry (wife) Judd Perry (nephew of Andrew E. Murray) "My Uncle, Flight Officer Andrew E Murray is still a MIA. He was shot down in the Solomon Islands on July 15, 1943. He was a member of the 44th Fighter Squadron. Aircraft P-40F-15 #116 "Katy Jane" s/n 41-19843." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Andrew E. Murray Logbook Flight Officer Andrew E. Murray - July 6-14, 1943 USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Murray, John G. page 139 (PDF page 146) single aerial victory credit July 12, 1943 unclear if this is in error or should be his July 11, 1943 mission or if he flew another mission on that date that was not recorded in his logbook. NARA CINCPAC War Diary July 1 - July 31, 1943 (Page 294) "15 July 1943. 1. Contacts and actions with the enemy in the Pacific Ocean Areas. 0330Z/15 - 27 Jap VB(M)s and 50 zeros were intercepted over Rendova by 44 Blue VF's. 15 VB(M)s and 30 zeros were shot down. We lost 3 pilots." NARA Second Marine Aircraft Wing War Diary for July 1943 "July 15, 1943 - 1425 - Condition red declared when a large bogey was reported closing. Fighter cover was vectored to intercept them and contact was made at 26,000 feet. Twenty-nine enemy fighters and 15 medium bombers were destroyed as compared with our loss of three fighters. No planes reached Rendova." News "Late Lt. Murry, Former Trojan, Honored at Air Field Ceremony" 1943 "Flight Officer Andrew Emmett Murry, '41 former crack Trojan halfback, killed in action in the Pacific war area last year, was honored at Helena Ark. air field ceremonies Feb. 7. The Distinguished Flying Cross was awarded to his widow, Mrs. Katy J. Murry of Helena... On a fighter interception of enemy aircraft on July 15 [1943], he was a member of the same flight near Gizo Island [sic Ghizo Island]. The flight leader saw a Zero fighter hit Flight Officer Murray's plane, which crashed into the sea." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Andrew E. Murray FindAGrave - FltOff Andrew E Murray (photos, logbook, tablets of the missing) Vampire Squadron (1985) pages 48-50 13th Fighter Command (2004) page 190 Japanese Naval Air Force Fighter Units and Their Aces 1932-1945 (2011) page 59, 393 Thanks to Judd Perry and Edward Rogers 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
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