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Japanese and Allied Air Forces in the Far East Please use this forum to discuss the Air War in the Far East. |
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P-38 Massacre-Rabaul -Jan 17.1944
Just received my last copy of "After The Battle",Issue #133-The Air War for Rabaul". I've always been interested in the air battle for Rabaul, ever since first reading about in the Navy Historical compedium by Samuel E. Morrison.
On January 17,1944 eight (8) P-38s were lost in aerial combat were lost over Rabaul, 4 from the 18th FG and 4 from the 347th FG. This was half of the available P-38 force. Does anyone know more about the incident? The US/RAAF force lost 17 a/c and the Japanese JNAF lost 12 A6Ms. (Japanese Naval Aces) |
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Re: P-38 Massacre-Rabaul -Jan 17.1944
Hallo kaki 3152
W.WOLF "THE 13th FIGHTER COMMAND IN WWII" give a rather detailed narrative of the combat in question. While escorting SBD and TBF , the P-38 of the 44 and 339 FS were bounced by a large number of A6M . Eight were shot down - 7 pilots killed +1 injured ( rescued ) for 6-5-1 claims . Also 1 SBD + 1 TBF lost. USMC F4U and USN F6F came to the rescue and claimed 12 A6M for 1 F4U and 1 F6F lost . I have no data on actual IJNAF losses. Hata and Izawa report no pilot killed under this date. Hope this helps gianpaolo |
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Re: P-38 Massacre-Rabaul -Jan 17.1944
![]() 1Lt Earl Heckler headed for Rabaul on Jan 17, 1944 RIP |
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Re: P-38 Massacre-Rabaul -Jan 17.1944
Hi, Is the following any help/interest http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/usafserials.html
Lockheed P-38H-5-LO Lightning 42-66897 (347th FG) lost Jan 17, 1944. MACR 1772 Lockheed P-38J-5-LO Lightning 42-67171 (347th FG) lost Jan 17, 1944. MACR 1779 42-67179 (347th FG) lost Jan 17, 1944. MACR 1775 I didn’t check the MACR Kind regards Ross Last edited by RossGmann; 14th March 2008 at 17:52. Reason: Lay out was not right |
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Re: P-38 Massacre-Rabaul -Jan 17.1944
Kaki,
18th FG losses included 42-67611 (Lt Theodore Schoettel), 42-67617 (Lt Earl Heckler) , 42-67785 (Lt George W. Snell) plus one of which serial number is not listed (MACR 1777). Pilot of last P-38 most likely to have been Lt John M. Munson. Sources: aviationarchaeology.com, footnote.com and abmc.gov Regards, Leendert |
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