Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

In introduction, since 7 Dec 1966, my goal is to locate, identify, and, hopefully, recover the MIA American and Japanese airmen from the Pearl Harbor Attack. Your help to locate witnesses who viewed an aircraft in distress, crashing, or visited any such plane from that day's action is greatfully appreciated. While I have interviewed over a thousand US and Japanese witnesses, the job is still on going and still has needs.

The research includes:
A list of every aircraft airborne within 300 miles of Oahu on 7 Dec 1941--THE WHOLE DAY! BOTH SIDES!

A crew roster for the above aircraft? Both Sides! Japanese side nearly complete. US side in progress. My incomplete roster of PILOTS for those 70-plus American aircraft airborne DURING the attack is given in EAST WIND RAIN by Stan Cohen (Missoula, MT: Pictorial Histories Pub; 1991) page 97-8. March 1994 edition has most current list.

Experiences of those airborne crews and the ground crews which aided these planes into the air. Both sides!

A history of each airbase (and the radar history) for 7 Dec 1941 is in work.

A roster of all aircraft on Oahu. See my incomplete list in 7 DEC 1941: THE AIR FORCE STORY by Leatrice Arakaki and John Kuborn (Washington DC: GPO; 1992).

Acquire marking data to properly paint replica or museum aircraft correctly as "Pearl Harbor" aircraft.

Acquire data to assist museums with exhibits of Pearl Harbor related accessions which are still relegated to storage.

Locate and recover the Missing Aircraft of 7 Dec 1941. Crew identification at recovered crash sites helps eliminate potential problems.

Assure the historic aircraft get properly restored and exhibited.

*For JPAC http://www.jpac.pacom.mil/

Provide enough data to isolate the crash sites of missing American airmen. See a sample of one project at: http://www.flightjournal.com/article.../sterling1.asp

Have the US military's JPAC do the crew recovery. I have been working with JPAC and its predecessor since 1975.

Prove that certain UNKNOWN graves at Punchbowl contain the bodies of Pearl Harbor MIA airmen.

*For the Japanese Bereaved Family Association and the Yasukuni Shrine:

Recover MIA airmen for return to Japanese relatives.

Identify those recovered Japanese returned to Japan in 1948.

Assure that all 1941 burials were disinterred.

Unique and esoteric stories or sources regarding Pearl Harbor are sought. These may be witnesses to crashed planes, a list of wartime/prewar publications, photos or documents of those days.

Here is to history, the ultimate puzzle, with a lot of pieces missing!
May the pieces be found before the witnesses are gone.
Cheers,
Sincerely,
David Aiken, a Director: Pearl Harbor History Associates, Inc.
http://www.pearlharbor-history.org/
PearlHarborHistory (at) Hotmail (dot) com

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Hello David,

While I beleive your website is a good one I feel that your aims re the recovery of those airmen while honourable, is it not better now that they be left where they are,
and let to sleep in peace, undisturbed. Even their most closest relations must by now have passed on.

Anyway, to my question's.
Just how many aircraft were destroyed at PH ?
I have seen different numbers quoted, 200, 170, etc.

What if any was the difference between the USAAC at PH and the Hawaiian Air Force at PH ?

Re the Douglas B-18's destroyed, some 12 in number so I beleive.
I have numbers for 7 can you help with the other 5 please ?
I have -

Number "3" serial number 37-4
number "32" serial number 37-11
number "37" serial number 37-19
number "51" serial number 36-335
number "82" serial number 37-3
number "92" serial number 36-270
number "95" serial number 37-12

Thanks

Alex

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Aloha Alex,
The next of kin to Vietnam MIA (missing in action) and BNR (Body Not Recoverable) have made their case about recovery and closure. I can not speak to say, enough is enough...as I have received a host of letters that say, enough is NOT enough. Thus, I am working with JPAC on the American BNR of Pearl Harbor... JPAC http://www.jpac.pacom.mil/

The USAAC is the "Air Corps"...and the paperwork had been made to make this into the USAAF in July 1941. Segments were still USAAC until 1942, but the bulk became the USAAF in July 1941.

The Hawaiian Air Force refers to that portion of the USAAF in Hawaii.

As to totals lost...I am still determining the total. I have the paperwork, but I have not made the totals, yet. Sorry.

Ah, the B-18s of 7 Dec...I have made an addition which covered that -and more- in the appendices of Leatrice Arakaki and John Kuborn: 7 DEC 1941, THE USAF STORY (Hickam AFB, HI: PACAF Office of History; 1991...Washington DC: GPO; 1991). http://www.gl.iit.edu/wadc/history/7...941/index.html

Cheers,
David Aiken, a Director: Pearl Harbor History Associates, Inc. http://www.pearlharbor-history.org/

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Thank you David,

Sorry you cannot add to the B-18 list though.

I think there were some civil losses too, any info on them and their crew(s). Some were shot down I beleive.

Alex

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alex Smart Thank you David,

All B-18s were accounted for at the above URL...."I have made an addition which covered that -and more- in the appendices of Leatrice Arakaki and John Kuborn: 7 DEC 1941, THE USAF STORY (Hickam AFB, HI: PACAF Office of History; 1991...Washington DC: GPO; 1991)." http://www.gl.iit.edu/wadc/history/7...941/index.html

Ah, the civilian planes...check out: http://www.pearlharborattacked.com/c...=ST;f=14;t=413

HTH,
David

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

In reply to Alex's comment "While I beleive your website is a good one I feel that your aims re the recovery of those airmen while honourable, is it not better now that they be left where they are,
and let to sleep in peace, undisturbed. Even their most closest relations must by now have passed on"

I believe the United States Armed Forces have made a commitment to ensure that every effort is made to return the mortal remaind of its Soldiers (Sailors & Airmen) no matter at what cost or period of time.

In OZ we get an excellent coverage of the work undertaken in Papua New Guinea by CIL-HI (Central Indetification Laboratory - Hawaii)

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Aloha Jeff,
Good points! This task is due in big part to the widows of Vietnam veterans still missing and the campaign they made to bring their loved ones home. I noted the effects in my own search, from about 1969. Prior to 1969 folks did not know the term "MIA".

Yes, Brian Bennett (the New Guinea, New Britian representative of JPAC-CILHI) is doing an excellent job. He and I have corresponded since 1983. He had been roaming the jungles at that time for various civilian plantations, etc, and finding aircraft while doing his job...he now tracks aircraft crashes for JPAC.

The US Army set up the Identification Lab in Hawaii after a move from the Orient. Johnie Webb was a mere Captain when my mother (a hospital nurse) took care of his mother in 1975...which introduced me to him and his commanding job. Johnie led CILHI until he retired from the military, and now is the top civilian at CILHI...this organization was taken over recently by a combined services unit called "Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command (JPAC)". The facility in Hawaii is still the central location for identification of suspected military human remains. http://www.jpac.pacom.mil/

In 1981, I got a phone call from the Army's Casualty and Memorial Affairs Branch (the former CILHI's direct boss) in Washington DC. In this most friendly call, he was concerned that I was using the term "MIA" as applied to World War II deceased personnel. He told me that the term "MIA" is like a pay scale for widows. As long as the loved one is declared "Missing", the widow gets money. Once the person is declared "Body Not Recoverable", that pay stops. Then it really "hit" me that I understood why the widows raised such a ruckus...money!

For some light reading on one "BNR" from Pearl Harbor: http://www.flightjournal.com/article.../sterling1.asp

Thanks for your interest, Jeff!
Cheers,
David Aiken

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

I also see regular articles in "FLIGHTPATH" magazine submitted by various "Pacificghosts" staff.

(The stories my parents tell about the destruction of Australian Aircraft at Tocumwal would make your stomach turn.)

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Helo David,

Thanks for the reply.

I have looked but cannot find all 12 serial numbers for the B-18's as you suggested IIR that they are there in the appendix.

Have looked at appendix C and can only find mention of 30 B-18's plus 2 other B-18's details unknown. Some 33 being reported.

Those 32 noted being -
2; 3; 4;31;32;33;35;36;37;50;
51;52;53;54;62;63;64;76;77;78;
79;80;81;82;83;92;92;93;94;95;
?; ?.
Two "92"'s being two different aircraft.

I can only find serial numbers for 7 [3;32;37;51;82;92;95] as previously mentioned of the 12 destroyed.

Are the other 5 serial numbers in the documents ?

Thanks

Alex

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Hello Jeffk,

Thank you for the reply.

What was meant on my part was that the 7th Dec 41 people should now be let to rest in peace.

I made no mention of those lost in other conflicts, simply because this thread was about the Pearl Harbour Losses.

Alex

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

And my answer was that US Armed Forces used every resource available to find these people.

I used the PNG efforts as an example.

PS The conflict in PNG was the same one as Pearl Harbor, you know, WW2

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Regarding aircraft losses, IIRC one of the PH investigation reports had an appendix with a complete list of all US aircraft lost during the PH attack. Sorry I don't remember which one.
Another point I was stationed at Kaneohe 1964-65 when there was still a lot of PH survivors around and there were still bullet marks in some of the supply department buildings. I was told by several of the local civilians that all the Japanese aircraft were gathered up and dumped in a crater at Kaneohe. I assume this was after they were exploited by the intel people. Don't kinow if it's true, but that is what I was told.

Walt

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Juha,

My understanding from "Bloody Shambles" is that the Japanese records where just that, a shambles. In addition to overclaiming they also didnt record their own losses accurately.

A number of the Australian claims are verified as the aircraft crashed on the land, harder to confirm are those which were claimed over the sea.

What numbers do you have for Japanese losses, from memory (I'll find the book again) the Australian (& British) claims were not all that many.

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Hello David,

Any idea as to the serial numbers of the 39 P36A's ?

Alex

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Hi Alex,
I am quite interested in learning the serial numbers. When ever anyone has access to such aircraft cards...please tell me, too!Thank you for bringing up this ommission in my records!Cheers,David

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Hi guys

Fascinating stuff here! Can anyone advise me of the identities of the eight civil singe-engine aircraft airborne at the commencement of the Japanese attack, details of those shot down (by whom/what) and the fates of the people on board?

Cheers
Brian

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Hi Brian,
The list of over 70 (Seventy) US aircraft airborne DURING the Pearl Harbor Attack is on pages 97-98 in Stan Cohen's EAST WIND RAIN (Missoula, MT: Pictorial Histories Pub, 1991, retitled ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, 2000 and later editions).

This list gives the pilot, unit, type plane, comments...including whether KIA, MIA, or flight data.

My current list is currently just over 80 aircraft...

This book was a team effort of the Pearl Harbor History Associates.
Cheers,
David Aiken, a Director: Pearl Harbor History Associates, Inc. http://www.pearlharbor-history.org/ The largest WWII web site on the blue marble.

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Hi David

I have a copy of '7 December 1941: The Air Force Story' and don't really wish to purchase another similar book just to obtain a few names and other similar details. Are you not able or willing to advise me? I do hope so.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers
Brian

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Gomen nasai Brian,
There are books which I recommend and there are those I don't. Same said for "Pearl Harbor" books.

Having proofread the Leatrice Arakaki/John Kuborn volume about the USAAF history...I can say that the Stan Cohen book is truely different. The Stan Cohen book is a pictorial history...and as I have a LARGE "Pearl Harbor" library in many languages...it is the largest "pictorial" of the attack in any language. Hopefully my various essays and lists (like the "airborne during" list) in Stan Cohen's work helped.

Another work which I helped REVISE is Carl Smith's PEARL HARBOR 1941 (Oxford, Eng: Osprey; 1999, revised 2001). Again, I hope that my additions help with a tactical understanding of the complex battle.
Cheers,
David Aiken, Dai toa senso kokan senshi: Shinjuwan Sakusen sensei

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Thanks for your reply David, but I am no wiser!

Keep up the good work.

Brian

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Research is never easy...yet, "Research is endlessly seductive, writing is hard work."--Barbara Tuchman, Pulitzer Prize winner [twice for history]
Cheers,
David

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Hi Alex,
You made a good point in your question. How many P-36s were shipped to Hawaii -by serial? How many -by serial- had accidents prior to 7 Dec? That requires a run-down of the aircraft record cards. That brings us to a number available and a number in maintenance...which the record cards may tell us the squadron assignments ...on 7 Dec.
Cheers,
David

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Thanks for the advice David, but having written 21 books it would be nice "to get a little help from one's friends", as the song goes!

Have a nice one

Brian

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Aloha All,
Thought that SOMEONE would have scanned the particular pages and sent them to Brian by now. My scanner is down, the ZIP drive is fried, and the printer failed. Perhaps some day I might write something for which I could get royalty...instead of just helping my friend's works....then I might be able to get things fixed!
Cheers,
David

Re: Pearl Harbor's Missing Aircraft - 7 Dec 1941
 

Hi David

I have since ordered a copy of the book in question, so hopefully I will learn more. But thanks, all the same. However, don't kid yourself about getting rich writing aviation books - I spend more on research than I receive in royalties - I have to send my wife out to work to make ends meet! If you want to make money from writing, then write a steamy novel! That's my advice, anyway. For me it's a labour of love (well, almost!) and an opportunity to perpetuate the feats of the great generation rapidly passing on. Sounds corny, but true.

Don't let's strain Anglo-American relations any further - else we won't hep you fight any more wars to strengthen the American Empire builders! Only joking!

Cheers from sunny Suffolk

Brian (all donations gratefully received!)