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| USAAF 5th AF 348th FG 341st FS |
Pilot 1st Lt Wilburn S. Henderson, O-665558 (MIA / KIA) Butler County, MO MIA December 27, 1943 MACR 2603 Aircraft History Built by Republic at Farmingdale, NY. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-47D-2-RE Thunderbolt serial number 42-8099. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 348th Fighter Group (348th FG), 341st Fighter Squadron (341st FS) "Black Jack". No known nose art or nickname. When lost engine: R-2800-21 serial number: 42-125134. Armed with eight .50 caliber machine guns serial numbers High Standard 588509, High Standard 588173, Colt 297109, Colt 296832, High Standard 588331, Colt 297058, High Standard 588354 and High Standard 588140. Mission History On December 27, 1943 took off from Finschhafen Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. James E. Lynch as one of sixteen P-47s from the 341st Fighter Squadron on a patrol mission over Cape Gloucester. The weather was clear along the southern coast of West New Britain. At 9:00am flying at 7,000' the formation arrived over Arawe and encountered roughly forty Japanese fighters above and below them. The Japanese force included fifteen D3A2 Vals including six from 552 Kōkūtai (552 Air Group) and nine from 582 Kōkūtai (582 Air Group) escorted by 38 A6M Zeros on a mission against Cape Gloucester but due to bad weather diverted to Arawe. Intercepting the Japanese force, the P-47 pilots claimed the Japanese pilots encountered were the most skilled and aggressive ever encountered and claimed sixteen shot down. Below, U.S. Navy (USN) PT Boats PT-190 and PT-191 were making high speed evasive turns to evade the enemy fighters. This P-47 was last seen in air combat with enemy fighters roughly a half mile out to sea off Arawe. Afterwards, a parachute was observed, considered to be that of an Allied airman who was dressed in flying coveralls such that Lt. Henderson was wearing but was not seen to land in the sea. Also lost was P-47D Thunderbolt 42-22702 pilot 1st Lt. James E. Lynch, Jr. (rescued). Statement of Capt. Arthur L. Weeks, 341st Fighter Squadron via MACR 2603 page 8 "On the 27 December 1943. at approximately 0900/L, while engaged in combat with enemy aircraft near Arawe, New Britain, I saw a parachute open at about 6,000 feet. I circled the parachute at about 4,000 feet and observed that the parachute was definitely one of ours. The pilot was dressed in flying coveralls as Lieutenant HENDERSON was and he was wearing collapseable raft. The pilot had both hands over his head apparently guiding the parachute down. I did not actually see the pilot hit the water, but he appeared to be uninjured so I climbed back in the fight." Search Afterwards, a thorough search of the area was made by U.S. Navy (USN) PT boats and PBY Catalinas without result. Memorials Henderson was officially declared dead December 28, 1944. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-47D-2-RE Thunderbolt 42-8099 "8099 (348th FG, 341st FS) shot down by Japanese fighter near Arawe, New Britain Dec 27, 1943. MACR 2603." Missing Air Crew Report 2603 (MACR 2603) created December 29, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wilburn S. Henderson FindAGrave - 1Lt Wilburn S Henderson (photo, tablets of the missing photo) Kearby's Thunderbolts: The 348th Fighter Group in World War II (1997) pages 176 "December 27, 1943 Lt. Milburn [sic Wilburn] Henderson (341) "He was last seen by his wingman a few miles south of Arawe, New Britain in no apparent trouble. He was listed MIA when he failed to return." 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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 P-47  Map Dec 27, 1943  MIA 1 Missing |
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