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| USAAF 5th AF 35th FG 40th FS  USAAF 1942 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Frank H. Beeson (MIA / KIA, BR) Tuscaloosa, AL Crashed July 25, 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 unknown (two letters and three digits). 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), 40th Fighter Squadron (40th FS). No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On July 25, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby pilot 2nd Lt. Frank H. Beeson armed with a 300 pound bomb on a mission to dive bomb the bridge at Wairopi near Kokoda. This Airacobra failed to return and Beeson was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage On April 3, 1943 burned wreckage of Beeson's Airacobra was found near Buna with the bomb under the wreckage. Recovery of Remains Beeson's body was found nearby by natives and reported to Allied forces who recovered his remains. His partially empty revolver was found beside his body. Memorials Beeson was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) for his actions on May 8, 1942. He also earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. After his remains were recovered, he was buried in New Guinea. Postwar, his remains were transported to Hawaii for burial at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot A, site 157. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Frank H. Beeson Joe Baugher "Airacobra I for RAF, P-400" The Anniston Star "MacArthur Honors Alabama Airmen" August 27, 1942 page 1 The Anniston Star "5 Alabama Soldiers Killed In Action" June 17, 1943 page 2 The Pittsburgh Press "Dying Aviator Fights Japs in Guinea Jungle" by George Weller May 18, 1943 Hall of Valor - Frank Hunsaker Beeson (DSC citation) FindAGrave - 2LT Frank Hunsaker Beeson (photos, grave photo) 40th Fighter / Flight Test Squadron Associate "WWII Honor Roll" via Wayback Machine July 23, 2008 Thanks to 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 16, 2026 |
 P-400  MIA 1 Missing Resolved |
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