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| USAAF 5th AF 8th FG 80th FS  Ruff 1942 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Gerald T. Rogers, O-430849 (survived) Ditched August 26, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number BW112 and painted in a three-color camouflage scheme. Instead, delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF). Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS). Tail letter R. No known nose art or nickname. Possibly, this aircraft was P-400 "Wahl Eye II" with tail number 13. Mission History On August 26, 1942 took off from 12 Mile Drome (Berry) near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Gerald T. Rogers on a mission over Buna. Over the target, intercepted by A6M Zeros, this Airacobra was damaged and ditched into the sea along the north coast of New Guinea near Pongani. Rogers landed unhurt. Rescue Assisted by friendly natives and missionaries, he was transported to Wanigela then back to Port Moresby. Wreckage Postwar, this Airacobra was located by a RAAF Searcher Team at roughly Lat 8.40 Long 148.24. References Ruff Stuff (2006) page 73 "After bailing out of his plane off Buna, he spent thirty days in the jungle trying to get back to friendly territory. Gerry was different. Before this mission he told me he would love to spend time in the back country of New Guinea - well, he got his wish. Before he went down, he would shoot birds with an air rifle, take the innards out, pack them with chemicals and cotton and send them back to the U.S. to some museum. As I remember I wasn't on the mission he got shot down on, believe it was on the coast between Buna and Milne Bay. He belly landed the P-39 in the ocean. The Zero came down and tried to get him in the water. He said he'd dive under water as the plane made passes firing at him." ANGAU Diary, Nov/Dec 1942 Extracts from Annual Report for the TUFI DISTRICT - 1942 Capt. F.W.G. Andersen ADO Tufi District: "Natives in this District are loyal supporters of the British Empire, They look to the Magistrate for guidance and whatever policy was adopted they would carry it out. Natives established guards and runner systems to bring warning to the Station. They have assisted crashed airmen without making any demands upon them - considering it a part of their duty. One of the village guards saw a friendly plane shot down near Pongani, and called his people together and rescued the pilot out of the sea. They then fed him and sent him to Wanigela - Lieut Rogers" PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-39 (P-400) Airacobra BW 112 Joe Baugher "Airacobra I for RAF, P-400" Thanks to Edward Rogers for research and analysis 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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