[Frank Olynyk]

Troy,
I have not been able to find Lynch's MACR at footnote.com, either by searching under "Thomas Lynch", or by the aircraft serial 42-103987. They seem to have done a pretty good job of indexing the names in the MACRs, so I suspect they do not have it. However, ...

It can be found in Lynch's Individual Deceased Personnel File. Two pages, the standard MACR form, and Bong's statement. Neither page, nor anywhere else in the IDPF shows a MACR number, so it may never have been forwarded. Lynch was killed in P-38J-15 42-103987.

Bong's statement is dated 10 March 1944. It reads, with original typos:

On 8 March, 1944 I accomplished Lieutenant Colonel THOMAS J. LYNCH on a fighter sweep from Nadzab to Tadji. We sighted 3 luggers and 2 barges in Aitape Harbor just west of Tadji drome. No enemy aircraft were seen so Lt Col TOMAS J. LYNCH dropped his belly tanks and dive down to strafe these boats from land to sea and I followed him down. We turned left and chandelled up and made pass and as I pulled up after him I saw his right propeller falling towards the ocean. I caught up to him and he called me and ask me if I could see him. I answered that I was right beside him and a little below. He turned left back toward land and just as he got over the land his right engine caught on fire. The airplane turned right down flaming. About 100 feet above the trees Lt Col LYNCH bailed out, but his chute did not open. The airplane crashed and exploded right below him, one mile south southwest of the village of Aitape. I circled three times but could not spot the parachute or body. I returned to base.

/s/t/ RICHARD I. BONG
Captain, Air Corps

The MACR gives the time as 1230 L, and states "Hit by a small arms fire from a lugger in Aitape Harbor." The engine serial numbers are given, but not the serial numbers of the weapons.



Frank.