Flew on the daring Royce Mission. Later, goes MIA with no trace of the plane, or its crew.

Documents the first encounter between the Aircobra and the Zero.

5th Shoots down seven planes in Twelve minutes in the Philippines!

Its navigator was the only American to go MIA in Australia after a crash.

Crew evades the Japanese and Communist (who also took USAAF prisoners) in after crash-landing in China.

Two bombers collide on the runway of Horn Island.

Crashes in New Guinea mountains after the end of WWII. Only post war air crew lost in New Guinea.

Rearming the Havoc with a nose gun pack, and its pilot's tragic loss.

Used to carry the Japanese delegation to surrender proceedings in Manila.

A pilot nicknamed "sweetmilk" because he did not drink is lost at Wewak

Given to the RAAF, and immediately pressed into service over Java

Sad legacy of a diary scrawled on the plane's door.

Photo Recon plane barely lands at a recently recaptured island.

Photo recon plane operating from Dutch New Guinea

The first combat aircraft to return to the USA, and finally rest with the Smithsonian.

Engages in the final aerial combat of WWII, after armistice flak and a die hard Navy pilots refused to give up the fight.

Taxpayer's Pride shot down by a Japanese Irvin nightfighter over Rabaul

Half Century PHoenix
Hit by flak and force lands in a New Guinea swamp salvaged 1985

Violent demise in a mangrove swamp [ Read sample chapter ]

Low Level and the Moresby Wreck
Lost on a practice strafing run against SS Purth.

Forced landed in the Philippines on March 30, 1945

This plane accumulated 182 combat missions, and retired from service in April 1945

Destroyed in an explosion on the ground in March 1945

Purchased by citizens of Seattle, this plane went missing August 14, 1942

Story of Patricia Gaffney-Ansel whose father was MIA in PNG for 55 years, before being discovered and buried at Arlington National Cemetery

Shot down by Japanese Ki-43 and crash lands at Gusap

Of the "flying sergeants" L-5's piloted by non-commissioned officers, otherwise know as the "Guinea Short Line"

Under attack, the pilot offers a cigar for each fighter shot down. Damaged, the plane crash lands on June 25, 1945

After a successful combat tour has a propaganda tour to sell war bonds in the US.

Flew disparately needed supplies to Guadalcanal, and work around the clock. They even shower underneath their plane.

Medium Bomber Dogfight: B-25 shoots down a Japanese Sally over open water of the Bismarck Sea.

Destroyed in a landing at Cairns, Australia in August 21, 1944. The pilot kept a cylinder of the plane at his desk after the war until his death.

The remains of the pilot remain with this wreck, unclaimed by the US Military because they are deemed "non-recoverable"

This plane had a double life, first as Little Hellion, then after being written off, was rebuilt as "The Steak and Eggs Special"

Missing on January 12, 1944, and the search by his family members that goes on to this day.

Account of the A-26's first combat in the South Pacific, the replacement for the A-20, that pilots rejected as inferior.

Veteran of two theaters: New Guinea and Guadalcanal went MIA over the Bismarck Sea

Crashed, and remains discovered in the early 1990's investigation by US and PNG governments still underway

Strange crash circumstances of USAAF ace Richard Bong's famous plane

A mid air collision triggers napalm to explode destroying two planes killing three. The gunner of one plane survives with minor injuries.