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| USAAF 5th AF 348th FG 341st FS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Harold Jacoby, O-665805 (MIA / KIA) Portland, OR MIA October 22, 1943 MACR 6606 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 42-8117. 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 42-124146. Armed with eight .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On October 22, 1943 at 8:40am took off from 17 Mile Drome (Durand) near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Harold Jacoby on a mission to escort B-25 Mitchells over Wewak. The weather was heavy cloud cover and overcast at 10,000' enroute with heavy storms over the target area. At 10:15am the formation arrived over Wewak at 20,000' and engaged in air combat with Japanese fighters. Departing the area, Jacoby linked up with P-47D "Sunshine" 42-8121 pilot 1st Lt George O. Burgess and P-47D Thunderbolt 42-22497 pilot 1st Lt. Wynans E. Frankfort flying back to base. Together, the trio flew on a course towards Bena Bena but due to heavy clouds became lost and found themselves over the Fly River. Flying at 1,500', the Frankfort and Jacoby believed they could reach Bulldog Airfield and departed up the Fly River. Alone, Burgess followed the Fly River to the mouth on the south coast of New Guinea. Out of fuel, Jacoby bailed out in the vicinity of Madiri plantation a swampy area south of Tidal Island. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was P-47D "Sunshine" 42-8121 pilot 1st Lt George O. Burgess (rescued) and P-47D Thunderbolt 42-22497 pilot 1st Lt. Wynans E. Frankfort (rescued). Search Afterwards, several search missions by flying boats were conducted under the direction of Lt. Col. David A. Campbell. After several aerial searches and a patrol by Australia New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGU), it was concluded that the swamp and terrain made survival impossible without native help and that Jacoby was likely dead and impossible to find. On October 27, 1943 OA-10 Catalina 43-3263 piloted by Lt. Lange took off from Port Moresby to rescue pilot Lt. Burgess at Kikori. On the return flight, searched the Bulldog area. On October 28, 1943 the same plane searched from Yule Island to Kubuna area and Goaribari Island north to Kikori and east to Port Romily for 8 hours dropping leaflets to villagers to notify them of a downed airmen, but had nil sightings. On October 31, 1943 in the morning OA-10 Catalina 43-3263 piloted by Lt. Lange took off from Port Moresby and flew to Madiri rubber plantation on the Fly River to rescue 1st Lt. Wynans E. Frankfort who reported seeing Jacoby bail out and he buzzed the area then flew down the Fly River before he bailed out himself and reportedly Jacoby's crashed plane was visible with his parachute hanging in tall grass 100 yards away. On November 1, 1943 OA-10 Catalina 43-3263 with Captain Isaac of New Guinea Force and Major Campbell from 341st FS flew to Daru where they picked up Captain Beharvel of ANGAU District Officer of the area then landed at ANGAU launch in the Fly River to pick up native police from the Tidal Island area. Afterwards, the flying boat searched for seven hours with nil results then landed back at the launch that was sent further up river to continue searching. Two weeks later, Captain Beharvel conducted a patrol up the Fly River to investigate the P-47 crash observed from the air but determined the plane was P-47D Thunderbolt 42-22497 piloted by 1st Lt. Wynans E. Frankfort. Although they also searched the area where Frankfort claimed to see Jacoby parachute, no trace of him or his plane was found nor did natives in the area see him or hear a plane crash. Memorials Jacoby was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harold Jacoby USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-47D-2-RE Thunderbolt 42-8117 "8117 (341st, FS, 348th FG, 5th AF) crashed from unknown cause near Wewak, Papua New Guinea after getting lost Oct 22, 1943. MACR 6606. Pilot bailed out 100 mi up the Fly River. Never heard from again." Missing Air Crew Report 6606 (MACR 6606) PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-47 Thunderbolt 42-8117 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold Jacoby FindAGrave - 1LT Harold Jacoby (photo, tablets of the missing 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 22, 1943  MIA 1 Missing |
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