2nd Lt. James W. Fagan
U.S. Army Air Force, 5th Air Force, 49th Fighter Group, 9th Fighter Squadron
Pilot P-38G 42-12850 Missing In Action (MIA) September 6, 1943

Background
James W. Fagan was born June 6, 1923 to parents William Francis Fagan and Mary Elizabeth “Mayme” (née Coughlin) Fagan in South Byron, New York. He was the youngest of five children. Growing up, his family attended St. Michael's Church. He graduated South Byron high school class of 1941. As a student, he was captain of the basketball team for three years and played in the orchestra. Afterwards, he worked as a salesman.

Wartime History
On March 12, 1942 enlisted in Rochester, New York in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as a private with serial number 12074228. During August 1942 he became an aviation cadet. He underwent primary flight training at Luke Field in Phoenix, Arizona. In November 1942 he met and married Nancy White of Riga, NY. On Next he graduated from Maran Flying School in Tuscon, AZ. He then completed advanced flight training at Williams Field in Chandler, AZ.On May 26, 1943 he earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-746067.

He underwent additional training at Glendale and Santa Ana in California. When he deployed overseas, his wife returned to live with her parents and later gave birth to a daughter Kay Ellen. In the middle of August 1943, he was sent overseas to New Guinea. Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 49th Fighter Group (49th FG), 9th Fighter Squadron (9th FS) as a P-38 Lightning pilot and went missinng less than three weeks after being sent overseas.

Mission History
On September 6, 1943 took off from Horanda Airfield (Doboruda No. 4) piloting P-38G Lightning 42-12850 as part of "Blue Flight" as wingman for flight leader P-38H 42-6???? pilot Captain Richard I. Bong with element leader 1st Lt. Hyland and element wingman 1st Lt. Raymond A. Swift on a mission to intercept by a formation of Japanese fighters and bombers in the vicinity of Lae and Finschhafen. This was Lt Fagan's first combat mission. The weather was 3/10 cloud cover at 15,000' at Morobe with the weather clear and clouds building up over Lae.

At 1:25pm at an altitude of 16,000' over Morobe spotted a Japanese formation of 18-20 G4M1 Bettys escorted by roughly 10 A6M Zeros. At 1:30pm last seen by Captain Richard I. Bong and 1st Lt. Raymond A. Swift roughly 15 miles south of Lae. This aircraft appeared to be having difficulty in dropping its right drop tank. When this P-38 failed to return, it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Search
On September 7, 1943 the squadron began six days of consecutive searching led by Captain Gerald R. Johnson flying over the area he was presumed lost flying over the area from Finschhafen down the north coast of New Guinea and 50 miles inland and the route from Lae to Horanda plus offshore islands in the vicinity. No trace of the plane or pilot were found.

Memorial
Fagan earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He was officially declared dead on December 19, 1945. Fagan is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Saint Francis Cemetery in Le Roy, NY.

Relatives
Pat Hopkins (niece)

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James W. Fagan
Pacific Wrecks - P-38G Lightning 42-12850
Missing Air Crew Report 6578 (MACR 6578) created September 8, 1943
Missing Air Crew Report 6578 (MACR 6578) created September 8, 1943
According to the 49th Fighter Group History, it was thought that the aircraft may be in the Wau or Tsili Tsili area. The 49th Fighter Group History states that the interception took place about 20 miles southeast of Lae.
The Buffalo Evening News "Army Flier Is Missing In Southwest Pacific" September 17, 1943 page 29
The Buffalo Evening News "Army Flier Is Missing In Southwest Pacific" September 18, 1943 page 17
Daily News "List 574 as Missing In 6 War Theaters" October 10, 1943
News "Ex-South Byron Youth Missing in the Pacific" September 1943
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James W. Fagan
FindAGrave - 2Lt James W Fagan (photo, tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - James W Fagan (memorial marker)
Protect and Avenge (1995) pages 190-191
"Once he reached his 9th FS quarters, Bong learned that his two bomber kill claims in the fight of September 6th could not be confirmed. But the most telling blow to the young captain came with the news of his rookie wingman who had not yet been accounted for. Apparently 2nd Lt. Jim Fagan had been shot down over the gulf."
South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 421-422 (September 6, 1943)

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