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| USAAF 5th AF 35th FG 41st FS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Thomas S. Ingram, O-661322 (MIA / KIA) Opelika, AL MIA 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 AP367. 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), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 41st Fighter Squadron (41st FS) "The Flying Buzzsaws". No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On November 1, 1942 at noon took off from 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Thomas S. Ingram as part of a formation of Airacobras led by C.O. Doss on a mission to escort three C-47 Skytrains to 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 AP266 piloted by 2nd Lt. Joel Dean Zabel (MIA). Search No search was made for the two missing pilots. Memorials Ingram was officially declared dead on December 9, 1945. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Rosemere Cemetery in Opelika, AL at Terrace B as per Tap Roots 1985. References Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) - Thomas S. Ingram 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 Ingram Joe Baugher "Airacobra I for RAF, P-400" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas S. Ingram FindAGrave - 1LT Thomas Spearman Ingram (news, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Thomas Spearman “Pep” Ingram (photo, news, memorial marker photo) DPMO Service Personnel Not Recovered Following WWII Ingram, Thomas S. 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 Erick W. Kyro, Daniel Leahy, Bruce Hoy 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 |
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