|  |
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 35th FG 41st FS Former Assignments 8th FG |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Joel Dean Zabel, O-425054 (MIA / KIA) Sterling, CO Crashed November 1, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Purchased by the Royal Air Force (RAF) as P-400 Airacobra serial number AP266. At the factory, painted in a three-color camouflage scheme and RAF markings. Instead, delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) and retained the RAF serial number. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG) to pilot Lt. Miller, whose name was painted in black below and forward of the tail section. Squadron number 175. Next, assigned to the 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 41st Fighter Squadron "The Flying Buzzsaws". No known nose art, nickname or nose number. Mission History On November 1, 1942 around noon, took off from 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Joel Dean Zabel as part of a formation of Airacobras led by C.O. Doss on a mission to escort three C-47 Skytrains bound for Pongani Airfield. Returning, the Airacobra formation encountered a weather front over the Owen Stanley Range and became separated in clouds at 26,000'. The base of the overcast was at 1,000' with the top at roughly 28,000'. This Airacobra was last seen entering the overcast. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was P-400 Airacobra AP367 piloted by 1st Lt. Thomas S. Ingram (MIA). Search No search was made for the two missing pilots. Wreckage This Airacobra crashed at roughly 2,300' elevation in the Owen Stanley Range near Saunom (Sanoum). During the 1980s, the aircraft was reported to authorities. On March 30, 1988 a team from US Army CILHI led by Benny Woodard with two locals from Saunom village landed by helicopter, at a helipad cleared by locals. At the site, he discovered the aircraft's serial number: AP266 on the tail wreckage and the name "Lt Miller" painted in black below and forward of the tail section. On March 31, 1988 team members Tommy Baughman, Sgt Bunch and PNG Museum modern history curator Bruce Hoy joined them on site. Their visit confirmed the serial number and recommended the site for further excavation before departing by helicopter. Bruce Hoy adds: "The identification of the pilot was originally made by me from a small radio signal I found tucked away by the Royal Australian Air Force that I had obtained in 1989." Recovery of Remains Returning on May 21, 1991 a US Army CILHI team led by Captain Hudson, Dr. Miller, Sgt Robinson, Sgt Coates and PNG Museum modern history curator Bruce Hoy landed on the nearby helipad and walked to the crash site arriving at 1:15pm. During this visit, he found a piece of aluminum skin with "Miller" and "175" painted on them. On May 22, 1991 the team returned and laid out a grid area over the site, which included an impact crater and the propeller. When this area was excavated, a single femur leg bone was found at 1:35pm. Also, the dataplate from the cockpit was located, further confirming the serial number as AP266. On May 23, 1991 the team continued searching. Bruce Hoy found a .45 caliber pistol magazine at 7:45am. The engine and 20mm cannon were also unearthed, and nose art on the nose near the shell ejection ports. On May 24, 1991 additional digging in the impact crater and down the nearby slope was done, before the site was officially closed at 10.00am after a short ceremony. The single bone (femur) recovered from the crash site was transported to CILHI and tested against mDNA provided by family members. During 1992, the Department of Defense (DoD) officially identified the remains as belonging to Zabel. During May 1999, the Department of Defense (DoD) officially identified his remains Memorials Zabel was officially declared dead on December 9, 1945 and posthumously promoted to 1st Lieutenant. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After he remains were identified, a rosette was placed next to his name, indicating he was recovered. He also has a memorial marker at Fort Logan National Cemetery at section MA site 55. After his remains were identifid, his relatives requested the remains be cremated. On July 17, 1999 he was laid to rest at his parents grave in Brea, California. Relatives William Zabel (brother) Karen L. Coon (niece of Zabel) References Airacobra I for RAF, P-400 41st Fighter Squadron Diary - 1 November 1942 "weather closed in and Lt. Ingram and Lt. Zabel became lost, and never returned." PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-400 Airacobra piloted by Zabel Bruce Hoy Diary March 30-31, 1988 Bruce Hoy Diary May 21-24, 1991 Bruce Hoy Diary April 14, 1988 (report to LTC Webb at CILHI about P-400 AP266 identification) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joel D. Zabel "remains recovered" FindAGrave - 1LT Joel Dean Zabel (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Joel Dean Zabel (photo, memorial marker photo) Los Angeles Times "A Brother, Though Still Missing, Is No Longer Lost" by Mike Downey June 27, 1999 Los Angeles Times "World War II, Human remains, Missing persons" by Mike Downey June 27, 1999 The Noble Generation, Volume 2 pages 88-89 Thanks to Bruce Hoy, Erick W. Kyro, Daniel Leahy, 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 August 9, 2026 |
 P-39  MIA 1 Missing Resolved |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
