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Pilot Lt. James Olin Brewer (survived) Crashed July 13, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) as P-400 Airacobra serial number AP357 and painted in a three-color camouflage scheme. Instead, delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) and retained RAF serial number AP357. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 35th Fighter Squadron (35th FS). Nose letter "V". No known nose art or nickname. On July 11, 1943 this Airacobra took off from 3 Mile Drome (Kila) piloted by Bob Smith on a mission and claimed a Ki-43 Oscar shot down. Mission History On July 13, 1943 took off from 3 Mile Drome (Kila) near Port Moresby piloted by Lt. James O. Brewer on an escort mission. Soon after take off, the propeller governor malfunctioned and caused the engine to run wild. Brewer radioed he was in trouble and aborted the mission. Manually, he managed to bring the engine under control but then lost oil pressure. The engine caught fire and forced him to bail out and landed unhurt roughly ten miles from 3 Mile Drome. Fate of the Pilot Brewer landed in kunai grass that cut him and he walked for four days before reaching an Allied searchlight position and was returned to his squadron. He lost twenty pounds and returned to duty. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James O. Brewer Joe Baugher "Airacobra I for RAF, P-400" "AP357 to USAAF" FindAGrave - James Olin Brewer (photo, grave photo) Attack & Conquer (1995) pages 115 (photo), 118 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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