Pilot 2nd Lt. Philip H. Vinall, O-821569 HQ Squadron, 8th Air Service Group (MIA / KIA, BR) ME
Crashed August 6, 1944
MACR 8082
Aircraft History
Built by Republic at the Indiana Division of Republic Aviation in
Evansville, IN. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-47D-4-RA Thunderbolt Serial Number 42-22681. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.
Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 1st Far East Air Force Composite Squadron, Far East Air Force - Combat Replacement and Training Center (FEAF-CRTC). No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engine R-2800-21 serial number 42-125101. Weapon serial numbers not listed in Missing Air Crew Report (MACR).
Mission History
On August 6, 1944 took off from Finschafen Airfield piloted by 2nd Lt. Philip H. Vinall on a cross country training flight bound for 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby. The weather was reported as scattered thunder heads at 10,000'. While flying in formation over the Owen Stanley Mountains, this P-47 was last seen at 11,000' altitude flying behind and to the right of the formation. When the formation made a left hand turn to avoid a cloud, Lt Vinall started a 180° turn to the right, but was not seen to complete the turn. Last sighted by 2nd. Lt. Adrian McClendon. When his aircraft failed to return from the mission he was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA) south of the Goilala area.
Search
After this P-47 was declared missing, Captain Don L. Sutliff searched between 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) and Goilala as far as 30 miles south of Wau with nil results. Afterwards, the Base Rescue officer at 7 Mile Drome continued to search.
Wreckage
This P-47 crashed north-northeast of Mount Albert Edward. After the crash, the remains of the pilot were buried nearby. This P-47 was initially located by Father Wendling from the Sacred Heart Mission at Kerau. On November 12, 1946, a RAAF Searcher Team visited the crash site and identified the aircraft and located the pilot's grave.
Recovery of Remains
When the wreckage was discovered on November 12, 1946, the remains of the pilot were exhumed from a grave and identified by his dog tags. Vinall's remains were handed over to an American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) team.
Memorials
Vinall was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After his remains were recovered in 1946, Vinall was permanently buried at Manila American Cemetery at
plot A, row 11, grave 9.
References
Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 8082
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Philip H. Vinall
FindAGrave -
2Lt Philip Henry Vinall
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Last Updated
September 30, 2022
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