2nd Lt. John "Johnny" H. Mangas
U.S. Army Air Force, 35th Fighter Group, 39th Fighter Squadron
P-38 Lightning 42-12665 Missing In Action January 8, 1943
Background
 John H. Mangas was born August 21, 1920 to parents George Emale Mangas and Rova Edythe Hays Mangas in Portland. Nicknamed "Johnny". He graduated Columbia Preparatory Academy class of 1938 and attended two years of college and was employed as an actor.
Wartime History
On November 3, 1941 enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as an aviation cadet with serial number 19004737. He attended flight school, earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-725327. During May 1942 learned to fly the P-38 Lightning at Hamilton Field.
During the summer of 1942, three P-38 pilots John Mangas, "Mitchell" and John O'Neill flew under under the Golden Gate Bridge and were caught and grounded. That same day, Richard I. Bong was caught buzzing the house of a pilot friend who just got married.
 Afterwards, sent overseas across the Pacific to Australia. Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 39th Fighter Squadron (39th FS) "Cobra In The Clouds" as a fighter pilot in New Guinea.
On his second mission, Mangas was on patrol at 32,000', his left engine quit and made a force landing because his his hydraulics failed and he was unable to lower his landing gear and was unhurt in the belly landing.
On December 27, 1942 took off piloting P-38F 42-12653, one of four P-38s led by Captain Tommy Lynch with 2nd Lt. Richard I. Bong and 2nd Lt. Kenneth C. Sparks. Over Dobodura they intercepted 35 enemy planes. This was the first aerial combat by the P-38 Lightning in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Seven enemy planes were claimed, with Mangas credited with one. Two other four-plane flights of the 39th FS joined the melee claiming another six victories. For his gallantry during the mission, Mangas earned the Silver Star. Afterwards, this aerial battle was reported in the American press.
On January 6, 1943, Mangas took off piloting P-38F 42-12653 and claimed his second aerial victory attacking enemy fighters defending a convoy roughly 50 miles off Gasmata over the Huon Gulf.
Mission History
On January 8, 1943 in the morning took off from 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) near Port Moresby piloting P-38F Lightning 42-12665 on an escort mission no. 1 over Lae and returned safely from the mission. Due to pilot shortages, Mangas volunteered to fly another mission.
In the afternoon, he took off again from 14 Mile Drome (Schwimmer) piloted P-38F Lightning 42-12665 on escort mission no. 3 over Lae. The formation included sixteen P-38s to fly top cover for B-17 Flying Fortresses from the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) bombing a Japanese convoy unloading at Lae.
Over the target, the formation was intercepted by the Japanese fighters including Japanese Army Air Force (JAAF) Ki-43 Oscars from the 11th Sentai plus Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) A6M Zeros from the 582 Kōkūtai (582 Air Group) and 252 Kōkūtai (252 Air Group). During the air combat, the 39th Fighter Squadron claimed seven victories, including Richard I. Bong who claimed his fifth aerial victory and became an ace. Mangas was last seen continuing to make firing passes at enemy planes, and disappeared into the clouds near dusk. At 6:20pm, his flight leader Lt. Hoyt Eason called on the radio for all pilots to form up and return to Port Moresby. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).
Aerial Victory Claims
Mangas was officially credited with two aerial victories between December 27, 1942 to January 6, 1943.
Memorials
Mangas was officially declared dead on January 8, 1946 and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned the Silver Star and Purple Heart, posthumously and was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, posthumously. Mangas is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Portland, Oregon in the family plot in section J, 17, 4.
Relatives
George Emale Mangas (father died October 9, 1945 at age 62)
Rova Edythe Hays Mangas (mother died 1922 age age 35)
Gary Smith (nephew of Mangas)
"John Mangas was the first P-38 lighting pilot lost in combat in the Pacific area."
References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John H. Mangas
USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II Alphabetical: Mangas, John H. page 121 (PDF page 128)
Statesman Journal "Portlander in High Scoring Squadron" February 11, 1943 page 2
"Feb. 10 (AP) In three days of battle of New Guinea and New Britain, the Army reported Wednesday, 16 members of a single army fighter squadron shot down 24 Japanese planes... Among members of the squadron who got one enemy plane [January 6, 1943 aerial victory claim] was John H. Mangas, Portland, Ore."
Statesman Journal "Father Gets Son's Medal" May 11, 1943 page 7
"May 10 (AP) - A Silver Star medal awarded a Portland Army flier mssing since January 8 [1943] in New Guinea was zone was presented to his father, George Mangas, here Sunday. The medal was awarded Lieut. John H. Mangas for shooting down at least one of seven Japanese planes netted by three P-38 Lightnings over Buna last December 27 [1942]."
Corvallis Gazette-Times "Obituary George Emale Mangas" October 10, 1945 page 3
"George Mangas, died suddenly in Portland of a heart attack... One son, John, is reported missing in the service."
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John H. Mangas
FindAGrave -
1Lt John H Mangas (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Lieut John Henry Mangas (photos, memorial marker)
The Times "Final Flight: Family keeps memory of World War II pilot John Mangas alive" by Christina Lent May 25, 2006
39th Fighter Squadron Association - 2nd Lieutenant John H. Mangas by Gary Smith
The Oregonian "Missing Man flyover honors P-38 pilot lost in the Pacific" May 25, 2006
Thanks to Gary Smith for additional information
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