David E. Latane
U.S. Army Air Force, 5th Air Force, 35th Fighter Group, 41st Fighter Squadron
Airacobra pilot

Background
David E. Latane was born March 25, 1916 to parents Lawrence W. Latane and Frances Augusta (née Eaton) Latane in Richmond, Virginia. He attended four years of college and worked as a guide.

Wartime History
On February 10, 1942 enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as an aviation cadet serial number 13014964. During July 1941, graduated with class 41-G at Maxwell Field then was assigned to Selfridge Field as a P-40 Warhawk pilot. On December 17, 1941 assigned to Moffett Field.

Flight Across Australia
Sent overseas aboard SS Mormacsun to Australia and flew P-40E Warhawks in Brisbane. On February 11, 1942 departed in a P-40E Warhawk on a ferry flight across Australia bound for Perth to be embarked aboard USS Langley, but instead his flight was diverted to Darwin then northward to Java. On February 13, suffered a blown tail wheel tire when landing at Alice Springs Airfield and waited for a new tire to be flown in. Until the end of the month, flew missions for the Australian Army to train anti-aircraft gunners then returned to Melbourne and back to Brisbane for reassignment.

During April 1942, Latane was assigned to the 41st Fighter Squadron (41st FS) to C flight under Lt. Wagner based at Bankstown Airfield. Assigned P-400 Airacobra Nose 94. Flew local patrols until May, including patrols for Japanese submarines after the midget submarine attack against Sydney Harbor. During June continued to fly patrols and dive bombing practice until the middle of July 1942.

Next, flew via Brisbane, Townsville, Horn Island (where he met RAAF ace Squadron Leader Keith "Bluey" W. Truscott) then onward to 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. For the remainder of the month, he flew local patrols and experienced many Japanese air raids.

On August 2, 1942 took off piloting P-400 Airacobra on a mission to escorted B-26 Marauders from 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG) on a mission against Lae. Over the target, intercepted by A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kōkūtai (Tainan Air Group). During the air combat, Latane's P-400 was hit in the rear, noting in his logbook "I got shot in the ass". For the remainder of the month, Latane flew escort missions for C-47s, B-25s and A-20s and strafed Kokoda Pass and Buna once each.

During September and into early October flew missions against Buna, escorted C-47s to Myola Lake and escorted B-26, A-20s and Beaufighters on missions attacking Lae and Salamaua.

On October 14, 1942 and for the next two days , escorted C-47 Dakotas to Wanigela Airfield. Latane was on R&R leave in Sydney between October 29, 1942 until November 14, 1942 when flown as a passenger aboard a B-17F Flying Fortress down and back to Port Moresby. Returning, he flew strafing missions during late November into December against Buna Airfield including enemy positions and anti-aircraft guns. During January to February 1943, flew patrols over the Buna area and guarded friendly shipping in Oro Bay and escorted C-47s flying to Wau Airfield.

On February 9, 1943 took off from 30 Mile Drome piloting P-400 Airacobra on a patrol over Oro Bay. Twenty-five minutes into the flight at roughly 2,000', this Airacobra caught fire roughly 20 miles north of 30 Mile Drome. Latane bailed out and landed in a swamp. It took him six days to return to the squadron on February 15, 1943. Afterwards, sent to Brisbane for rest and recuperation.

On March 23, 1943 returned to Port Moresby and began training new pilots and flying escort missions for C-47 Dakotas to Wau Airfield until April 12 when he began flying from Dobodura until April 23 with orders to report back to HQ in Brisbane, the back to the United States.

Assigned to Eglin Airfield during June 1943 to March 1944, flying P-39Q, P-40 Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-63 Kingcobra, P-38 Lighting, P-51B Mustang plus several other aircraft types.

Postwar
Latane joined the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

Memorials
Latane passed away January 19, 1986 at age 69. He is buried at Saint Peter's Cemetery in Oak Grove,Virginia.

Relatives
John Haynes (grandson of Latane)

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - David E. Latane
Flight Log David E. Latane - February 9, 1943
Every Day A Nightmare pages 80, 153, 175, 184-185, 399n2
41st Fighter Squadron DVD
FindAGrave - David Eaton Latane (photo, grave photo)
Every Day A Nightmare American Pursuit Pilots in the Defense of Java, 1941-1942 (2010) pages 80, 153, 175, 184-185, 482 (index Latane)
Thanks to John Haynes, Edward Rogers and William Bartsch for additional information

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