Neel Kearby's P-47
Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 6:54 pm
Neel Kearby was on of the greatest aces in the Pacific theater. I was wondering if his P-47 was ever found and his remains returned to his family?On the way to Wewak, always a good hunting ground, they picked up a formation of 15 Japanese aircraft. Kearby got one on his first pass and then, against General Kenney's advice, climbed back to shoot down at least one more. This time, three enemy fighters latched on to his tail. Dunham and Blair each got one of Kearby's assailants, but the third put a burst into Kearby's cockpit from close range before Dunham blew him apart. Kearby's P-47 went straight into the jungle. There was no parachute.