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| USAAF 5th AF 35th FG 40th FS  USAAF c1942   Philip K. Shriver c1942 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Edward J. Gignac, O-430806 (survived) MA Force Landed July 11, 1942 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number BW117 and painted in a three-color camouflage scheme. Instead, delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-400 Airacobra BW117. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 40th Fighter Squadron (40th FS). Nose number 43. No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On July 11, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 2nd Lt. Edward J Gignac on a scramble mission to intercept Japanese bombers. Climbing to 15,000' this Airacobra experienced an engine failure and crashed landed near 30 Mile Drome (Rogers). Wreckage A wartime photo shows wreckage including the bent propeller, upside down center section and tail wreckage in a clearing near 30 Mile (Rogers Drome). Likely, parts of the wreck were salvaged during the war. Until at least the 1970s, wreckage with serial number BW 117 visible remained in the vicinity of 30 Mile (Rogers Drome). Fate unknown, likely scrapped. Afterwards Gignac did not fly combat for the rest of the month and was later sent to the United States and assigned to the 352nd Fighter Group (352nd FG), Headquarters Squadron and promoted to the rank of Major. On June 7, 1944, Gignac was killed in action piloting P-51B Mustang 42-106661. The aircraft was hit by flak in the wing, causing it to explode (MACR 5556). Memorials He is buried in France at Epinal American Cemetery at plot A, row 33, Grave 28. During his service he earned the Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart (posthumously). References The Aircraft Wrecks in the South Pacific Area, Pacific Aviation Society notes wreck of BW117 Joe Baugher "Airacobra I for RAF, P-400" PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-39 (P-400) Airacobra BW 117 Australian War Memorial Collection Database - P03338.001 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward J. Gignac FindAGrave - Maj Edward Joseph Gignac (photos, grave photo) Together We Served - Maj Edward J Gignac Thanks to Edward Rogers and Daniel Leahy 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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