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| USAAF 5th AF 35th FG 40th FS  USAAF 1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Hilton S. Kessel, O-807577 (MIA / KIA) Kessel, WV MIA October 10, 1944 MACR 13312 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-28-RA Thunderbolt 42-28529. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) 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. When lost, engine R-2800-59 serial number FP-003557. Armed with eight .50 caliber machine guns made by Frigidaire serial numbers 1251794, 1252892, 1252406, 1252538, 1251843, 1252691, 1242411 and 1251781. Mission History On October 10, 1944 took off from Owi Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Hilton S. Kessel with a pair of drop tanks on a long range fighter sweep over Balikpapan on southeast Borneo. The weather was an extended weather front from 500' to 25,000' with haze and poor visibility. At 10:30am last contact via radio with 1st Lt. William H. Strand over Manggar. This plane was believed lost due to lack of fuel. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Hilton S. Kessel USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-47D-28-RA Thunderbolt 42-28529 Missing Air Crew Report 13312 (MACR 13312) created October 10, 1944 American Battle Monuments Commission - Hilton S. Kessel FindAGrave - 1LT Hilton Snower Kessel (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Hilton Snowder Kessel (photos, memorial marker photo) 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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 P-47  Map Oct 10, 1944  MIA 1 Missing |
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