P-38 crash in Drvar, Bosnia, in September 1944.

[RSwank]

Alex, I think all the ones you list that have MACRs can probably be eliminated. We have looked at the MACRs on fold3 and you have both? MACRs for Coulson and Brewer. None of the serial numbers match, correct?

Robert W Crawford is interesting, because he was killed at Dvar on 25 May 1944. He was not a pilot, however, so there is no MACR.

This link says Crawford accompanied Col George Kraigher on a mission, apparently to meet with Tito on behalf of General Eaker. Crawford was killed when the Germans launched an assault on Dvar in an attempt to get Tito.

https://books.google.com/books?id=fN...page&q&f=false

[vathra]

Originally Posted by RSwank

There are NO MACRs on fold3 for the following two men:

Coulson, Eldon E O-715478: but on Aviation Archaeology he is listed with plane 43-28662, MACR 9696 and loss date of 1944-11-7. His FOD date per the abmc is 1945-11-8.

Brewer Philip O-715462: but on Aviation Archaeology he is listed with plane 44-24035, MACR 9694 and loss date of 1944-11-7. His FOD date is give as the date of death 1944-11-7.

I may decide to pay the fee to order the above MACRs. but neither serial number is in our “suspected” range.

I can send you NMR from their mission, they were shot down and buried near Nish, some 450 km from Drvar.

[vathra]

Originally Posted by RSwank

Alex, I think all the ones you list that have MACRs can probably be eliminated. We have looked at the MACRs on fold3 and you have both? MACRs for Coulson and Brewer. None of the serial numbers match, correct?

Robert W Crawford is interesting, because he was killed at Dvar on 25 May 1944. He was not a pilot, however, so there is no MACR.

This link says Crawford accompanied Col George Kraigher on a mission, apparently to meet with Tito on behalf of General Eaker. Crawford was killed when the Germans launched an assault on Dvar in an attempt to get Tito.

https://books.google.com/books?id=fN...page&q&f=false

I have also considered Crawford some months ago, but in IDPF of missing airmen there is description that he was found inside the plane. Considering serials from plane, it is very likely that it was not Crawford.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
I agree re they all had MACR's except Crawford. But they were the only ones in the dpaa.mil lists that were headed"Yugoslavia".
There are many others that have no details of a/c serial or MACR.
From the dpaa list here are those of the 82FG.
Anderson, Ernest L. 1Lt. 95FS. Med
Antilla, Erwin E. 2Lt. 97FS. Italy
Atteberry, Lloyd E. 1Lt. 97FS. Tunisia
Baldwin, Harry W. 2Lt. 95FS. Tunisia
Beatty, Robert E. 2Lt. 97FS. Med
Bentzlin, Conrad F. 2Lt. 97FS. Sicily
Bortner,Robert W. 2Lt. 97FS. Italy
Champion, Louis C. 1Lt. 96FS. Atlantic Ocean
Crichton, Douglas E. 1Lt. 96FS. Sardinia 42-12830.
Conners, James F. 2Lt. 97FS. Med
Cookson, Jerold A. 1Lt. 95FS. Italy
Croddy, Robert M. 2Lt. 95FS. Italy 43-2467
Curran, Charles R. 2Lt. 95FS. Med
Delahunt, Frederick J. 2Lt. 96FS. Tunisia
Delp, Robert L. 2Lt. 97FS. Med
Dennison, Frank W. 2Lt. 96FS. Italy 42-12932
Diel, Harold S. 1Lt. 96FS. Greece 42-13206
Duncan, Jesse T. 2Lt. 96FS. Med
Dunn, William J. 2Lt. 97FS. Tunisia
Ellerbee, Allen E. Jr.2Lt. 95FS. Med
Farrell, Harold M. 2Lt. 95FS. Tyrrhenian sea 42-13262
Francke, William T. 2Lt. 96FS. 42-13132
Force, James A. Capt. 97FS. Italy
Gasaway, Harry S. 2Lt. 97FS. Med
Graham, Carl G. 1Lt. 97 FS. Adriatic
Green, Earl T. 2Lt. 96FS.
Hand, Stanley S. 2Lt. 96FS. Greece 43-2456
Hays, Oliver B. 2Lt. 95FS. Med
Heffington, Dale L. 2Lt. 97FS. Tunisia
Hieronymus, W. M. 1Lt. 97FS. Med
Johnson, James C. 2Lt. 97FS. Tunisia
Knell, William A. 2Lt. 927FS. Tuniasia
Lawrence, Lee H. 2Lt. 96FS. Tunisia
Lewis, Ervin A. 1Lt. 97FS. Med
Low, Roy M. LtCol. 82FG. Tunisia
Luddington, Lloyd F. 2Lt. 97FS. Med
McNamara, David A. 2Lt. 95FS. Adriatic sea 43-2406
Miller Franklin. Capt. 96FS. Med
Molloy, Francis M. 2Lt. 95FS. Med
Moore, Gerald E. Jr. 2Lt. 95FS. Tyrrhenian sea 43-2497
Paskiewicz, Paul I. 2Lt. 95FS. Italy 42-13402
Porterfield, Joseph A. 2Lt. 94FS. Italy 42-13210
Pyle, Benjamin C. 2Lt. 97FS. Med
Ragland, Clifford L. 2Lt. 95FS. Italy 43-2476
Rainear, Charles J. 2Lt. 95FS. Sicily
Reding, James P. 2Lt. 95FS. Med
Riddle, William L. 2Lt. 95FS sea
Shearer, Donald H. 2Lt. 95FS. Med
Sheen, Joseph R. Jr. 2Lt. 95FS. Med
Sheets, Melvin A. F/O. 97FS. Italy
Smidt, Robert H. F/O. 96FS. Italy 43-2514
Smith, Harold I. 2Lt. 95FS. Med 43-2086
Spence, Homer A. 1Lt. 96FS. Germany 42-104049
Spencer, Charles R. Major. 97FS. Italy
Strumpell, Marc E. 1Lt. 95FS. Adriatic sea 42-13163
Towson, Louis A. 1Lt. 97FS. Med
Washburn, Jack. 2Lt. 97FS. Med
Wilkins, Ora M. 1Lt. 95FS. Tunisia
Williams, Robert B. jr. 2Lt. 97FS. Albania
Wilson, Earl W. 2Lt. 97FS. Tunisia
Winney, John L.2Lt. 95FS. Tyrrhenian sea 42-12832

I could find no others
Alex

[Rainer]

Hi Alex

There are actually 84 pilots of 82nd FG still listed as MIA in the DPAA data, but most were lost earlier than May 1944. Here is an analysis of the 29 cases listed with a later date:

• 1944-09-03 2LT AMBERSON, JACK E (O-729788) 96 FS/82 FG > MACR 577: P-38G 42-13187 lost over Italy on 2 Sep 1943
• 1945-04-22 1LT ANDERSON, ERNEST L (O-767063) 95 FS/82 FG > no MACR found, listed as missing over Mediterranean Sea (probably lost that day)
• 1944-08-21 2LT ANTILLA, ERWIN E (O-670811) 97 FS/82 FG > MACR 436: P-38G 42-13194 lost over Italy on 20 Aug 1943
• 1944-05-06 2LT BEATTY, ROBERT E (O-733789) 97 FS/82 FG > no MACR found, listed as missing over Mediterranean Sea (probably FOD date)
• 1945-02-16 2LT BERTRAM, GEORGE A (O-770146) 95 FS/82 FG > MACR 12147: P-38J 43-28653 lost over Adriatic Sea on 16 Feb 1945
• 1945-03-13 2LT BORTNER, ROBERT W (O-773546) 97 FS/82 FG > no MACR found: P-38J 42-68007 crashed into sea off Italy on 13 Mar 1945
• 1944-11-07 2LT BREWER, PHILIP (O-715462) 95 FS/82 FG > MACR 9694: P-38L 44-24035 lost over Yugoslavia on 7 Nov 1944
• 1944-05-29 2LT CLARK, ROBERT F (O-755879) 97 FS/82 FG > MACR 5408: P-38G 42-13250 lost over Yugoslavia on 29 May 1944
• 1945-01-12 1LT COOKSON, JEROLD A (O-763504) 95 FS/82 FG > MACR 11088: P-38J 43-28769 lost over Italy on 12 Jan 1945
• 1945-11-08 2LT COULSON, ELDON E (O-715478) 95 FS/82 FG > MACR 9696: P-38J 43-28662 lost over Yugoslavia on 7 Nov 1944
• 1945-09-10 2LT CRODDY, ROBERT M (O-748921) 95 FS/82 FG > MACR 1622: P-38G 43-2467 lost over Italy on 25 Dec 1943
• 1944-09-03 2LT DENISON, FRANK W (O-743424) 96 FS/82 FG > MACR 578: P-38G: 42-12932 lost over Italy on 2 Sep 1943
• 1944-05-06 2LT ELLERBEE, ALLEN E JR (O-732198) 95 FS/82 FG > no MACR found, listed as missing in Mediterranean Sea (probably FOD date)
• 1944-09-03 2LT FARRELL, HAROLD M (O-732203) 95 FS/82 FG > MACR 574: P-38G 42-13262 lost over Tyrrhenian Sea on 2 Sep 1943
• 1944-05-17 CPT FORCE, JAMES A JR (O-429064) 97 FS/82 FG > MACR 4840: P-38G 43-2449 lost over Italy on 17 May 1944
• 1944-09-03 2LT FRANCKE, WILLIAM T (O-743328) 96 FS/82 FG > MACR 579: P-38G 42-13132 lost over Tyrrhenian Sea on 2 Sep 1943
• 1945-02-17 1LT GRAHAM, CARL G (O-769804) 97 FS/82 FG > no MACR found, listed as missing in Adriatic Sea (probably lost that day)
• 1945-08-13 2LT HAND, STANLEY S (O-792830) 96 FS/82 FG > MACR 923: P-38G 43-2456 lost over Greece on 4 Oct 1943
• 1944-09-03 2LT KARAM, GEORGE E (O-732265) 97 FS/82 FG > MACR 571: P-38G 42-13200 lost over Italy on 2 Sep 1943
• 1944-12-09 2LT PORTERFIELD, JOSEPH A (O-800041) 95 FS/82 FG > MACR 1466: P-38G 42-13210 lost over Italy on 8 Dec 1943
• 1944-09-03 1LT SCHLENER, JOHN L (O-431563) 96 FS/82 FG > MACR 575: P-38F 43-2153 lost over Italy on 2 Sep 1943
• 1944-08-26 2LT SINGER, WARREN L (O-740575) 96 FS/82 FG > MACR 487: P-38G 42-13042 lost over Adriatic Sea on 25 Aug 1943
• 1944-08-20 F/O SMIDT, ROBERT H (T-186611) 96 FS/82 FG > MACR 435: P-38G 43-2514 lost over Italy on 19 Aug 1943
• 1944-07-20 1LT SPENCE, HOMER A (O-760403) 96 FS/82 FG > MACR 7070: P-38J 42-104049 lost over Austria on 20 Jul 1944
• 1945-09-18 MAJ SPENCER, CHARLES R (O-424693) 97 FS/82 FG > MACR 2068: P-38G 42-13173 lost over Italy on 30 Jan 1944
• 1944-07-09 2LT VANDIVER, JOHN J (O-822182) 95 FS/82 FG > MACR 7103: P-38J 44-23201 lost over Italy on 9 Jul 1944
• 1944-05-06 2LT WEDDLE, EDGAR L (O-665652) 95 FS/82 FG > no MACR found, listed as missing over Mediterranean Sea (probably FOD date)
• 1944-06-19 2LT WEHMAN, GEORGE E JR. (O-729392) 96 FS/82 FG > MACR 1406: P-38G 42-12876 lost over Sardinia on 18 Jun 1943
• 1945-08-15 2LT WILLIAMS, ROBERT B JR. (O-736443) 97 FS/82 FG > MACR 1011: P-38G 43-2354 lost over Albania on 25 Oct 1943

Color Code:
DarkRed: Lost earlier than May 1944 or wrong P-38 type.
DarkOrange: Aircraft unknown
DarkGreen: Type P-38J-15-LO

[Rainer]

DPAA lists 68 pilots of 1st FG still MIA, but only 28 with a date in May 1944 or later:

• 1944-05-07 2LT BRYSON, LOUIS M JR (O-730368) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 15699: P-38 serial number? lost over Sicily on 6 May 1943
• 1944-05-11 1LT BURGER, GEORGE B (O-728970) 94 FS/1 FG > no MACR found, listed as missing over Sicily (probably FOD date)
• 1944-05-07 2LT BURKE, JAMES W (O-730371) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 16233, P-38 serial number? lost over Sicily on 6 May 1943
• 1944-06-25 2LT CONN, DAVID M (O-732171) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 56: P-38G 42-12910 lost over Sardinia on 24 Jun 1943
• 1945-01-22 2LT FISCHER, DAVID J (O-742993) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 1994: P-38G 43-2546 lost over Mediterranean Sea on 21 Jan 1944
• 1945-11-22 1LT FOLLETT, JOHN R (O-762304) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 9970: P-38L 44-24444 lost over Yugoslavia on 21 Nov 1944
• 1944-05-26 1LT FRENG, ALDEN E (O-732212) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 16462: P-38 serial number? lost over Mediterranean Sea on 25 May 1943
• 1946-04-01 1LT GILLEN, ROLLA G (O-756537) 94 FS/1 FG > MACR 13479: P-38L 44-24654 lost over Austria on 31 Mar 1945
• 1944-05-26 2LT HALL, JACK C (O-732234) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 16462: P-38 serial number? lost over Mediterranean Sea on 25 May 1943
• 1944-05-17 2LT HAMMERSTROM, DONALD A (O-758991) 94 FS/1 FG > MACR 5051: P-38J 42-104328 lost over Adriatic Sea on 17 May 1944
• 1944-11-11 1LT JENSEN, RUSSEL E (O-826983) 94 FS/1 FG > MACR 9802: P-38J 42-104248 lost over Adriatic Sea on 11 Nov 1944
• 1944-07-28 1LT KUYKENDALL, JIM L (O-423077) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 7008: P-38J 43-28645 lost mid-air collision with 43-28370 on 28 Jul 1944
• 1945-10-12 1LT LINDBERG, DONALD I (O-770328) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 9074: P-38J 43-28630 lost over Yugoslavia on 11 Oct 1944
• 1944-07-13 2LT MICHELI, HOWARD G (O-762384) 94 FS/1 FG > MACR 7192: P-38J 44-23147 lost over Adriatic Sea on 13 Jul 1944
• 1944-10-04 2LT PARRISH, RALPH F (O-743490) 71 FS/1 FG > MACR 992: P-38G 42-12890 lost over Tyrrhenian Sea on 3 Oct 1943
• 1945-10-04 1LT PARSONS, WILLIAM G (O-746166) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 3162: P-38H 42-66728 lost over Austria on 25 Feb 1944
• 1944-09-12 2LT PHILLIPS, MARION E (O-740548) 94 FS/1 FG > MACR 500: P-38G 42-13014 lost over Sicily on 28 Aug 1943
• 1944-08-21 2LT POST, HAROLD F (O-740551) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 422: P-38G 43-2517 lost over Italy on 20 Aug 1943
• 1944-08-29 1LT RUDNICK, BASIL S (O-733990) 71 FS/1 FG > MACR 494: P-38G 43-2554 lost over Tyrrhenian Sea on 28 Aug 1943
• 1944-06-10 2LT SMITH, ALBERT F (O-750703) 71 FS/1 FG > MACR 5762: P-38J 43-28732 lost over Romania on 10 Jun 1944
• 1944-10-22 F/O SPAULDING, JESSE E (T-001380) 71 FS/1 FG > MACR 933: P-38G 42-13017 lost over Italy on 21 Oct 1943
• 1944-11-16 2LT STEFFANI, EDWARD (O-708161) 71 FS/1 FG > MACR 9893: P-38L 44-24407 lost over Yugoslavia on 16 Nov 1944
• 1944-05-26 CPT STENTZ, DAVID S (O-413033) HQ/1 FG > MACR 16462: P-38 serial number? lost over Sicily on 25 May 1943
• 1944-08-20 2LT STJOHN, WALTER O JR (O-766377) 94 FS/1 FG > MACR 7978: P-38J 43-28637 lost over France on 20 Aug 1944
• 1944-06-21 2LT THOMPSON, LEON E (O-734032) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 310: P-38G 42-13138 lost over Mediterranean Sea on 20 Jun 1943
• 1944-10-20 2LT TWEDT, LOWELL S (O-806552) 71 FS/1 FG > MACR 9313: P-38J 43-28799 lost over Italy on 20 Oct 1944
• 1944-12-02 2LT VONDRA, ELDON E (O-675957) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 1640: P-38G 42-12989 lost over Italy on 1 Dec 1943
• 1944-08-21 2LT WEBB, ADOLPHUS M JR (O-737910) 27 FS/1 FG > MACR 425: P-38G 42-13372 lost over Italy on 20 Aug 1943

Color Code:
DarkRed: Lost earlier than May 1944 or wrong P-38 type.
DarkOrange: Aircraft unknown
DarkGreen: Correct type: P-38J-15-LO

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Well done.
Looks like I missed Clark in my "Yugoslav" post number 70.
Maybe Left out because of known macr?
Alex

[Rainer]

DPAA lists 50 pilots of 14th FG still MIA, but only 21 with a date in May 1944 or later:

• 1944-05-19 2LT BENTON, ROBERT B (O-733792) 48 FS/ 14 FG > no MACR found, listed as missing over Tyrrhenian Sea (probably FOD date)
• 1944-07-11 2LT BOOTH, SIDNEY R (O-733803) 49 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 340: P-38G 42-12938 lost over Sicily on 10 Jul 1943
• 1944-05-12 2LT CHAVIS, WAYNE M (O-728977) 49 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 16283: P-38 serial number? lost over Sicily on 11 May 1943
• 1945-01-20 2LT COOK, GLENN A (O-770185) 48 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 11389: P-38L 44-24638 lost over Adriatic Sea on 20 Jan 1945
• 1945-09-17 2LT DUFF, ARTHUR V (O-668218) 49 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 1990: P-38G 42-13447 lost over Tyrrhenian Sea on 20 Jan 1944
• 1944-05-23 2LT HENRY, JOHN C JR (O-730485) 37 FS/ 14 FG > no MACR found, listed as missing over Italy (probably FOD date)
• 1944-05-20 1LT HOWK, FRANK C JR. (O-441475) 49 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 16283: P-38 serial number? lost over Sicily on 19 May 1943
• 1944-05-14 2LT LAVERY, WILLIAM A (O-760337) 48 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 5078: P-38J 42-104076 ditched in Adriatic Sea on 14 May 1944
• 1944-08-14 1LT MCCONNELL, W C JR (O-816901) 49 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 7976: P-38J 42-104123 lost over France on 14 Aug 1944
• 1945-03-18 CPT MEIDINGER, JOHN C (O-743471) 48 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 13067: P-38L 44-25041 lost over Yugoslavia on 18 Mar 1945
• 1944-07-08 2LT MITCHELL, HENRY D (O-763294) 48 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 6807: P-38J 42-104051 lost over Austria on 8 Jul 1944
• 1944-08-24 2LT MOOMAW, RUSSELL K (O-732312) 37 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 488: P-38G 42-13233 lost over Tyrrhenian Sea on 23 Aug 1943
• 1944-05-29 2LT SIMMONS, HARRY E (O-729068) 48 FS/ 14 FG > no MACR found, listed as missing over Sicily (probably FOD date)
• 1945-03-10 2LT SINCLAIR, HERSCHEL T (O-773836) 49 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 13005: P-38J 43-28547 lost over Adriatic Sea on 10 Mar 1945
• 1945-08-20 1LT STRADER, LEROY C (O-753754) 37 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 8341 & 10005: P-38J 43-28336 lost over British Isles on 20 Aug 1944
• 1944-05-19 MAJ TINKER, CLARENCE L JR (O-373878) HQ/ 14 FG > no MACR found, listed as missing over Italy (probably FOD date)
• 1945-08-17 1LT TOWNSEND, CHARLES C (O-746225) 37 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 3692: P-38G 42-13452 lost over Adriatic Sea on 30 Mar 1944
• 1944-05-11 2LT VARNDELL, DEWEY F JR (O-729384) 37 FS/ 14 FG > no MACR found, listed as missing over Sicily (probably FOD date)
• 1945-09-12 2LT WELLS, LAWRENCE D (O-750741) 48 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 1695: P-38F 41-7633 lost over Italy on 1 Mar 1944
• 1944-08-16 1LT WOODY, WAYNE R (O-760217) 49 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 8630: P-38J 43-28345 lost over Tyrrhenian Sea on 16 Aug 1944
• 1945-04-08 1LT ZIMMERMANN, RICHARD (O-684597) 48 FS/ 14 FG > MACR 3705: P-38J 42-104107 lost over Adriatic Sea on 7 Apr 1944

Color Code:
DarkRed: Lost earlier than May 1944 or wrong P-38 type.
DarkOrange: Aircraft unknown
DarkGreen: Correct type: P-38J-15-LO

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
MACR 16283 has the following .
Dated 15 January 1943.
Stated - missing a/c "on Cape Bon, Tunisia".
Crew(?) listed as-
Pilot- Kirschke, Robert P. 2Lt. O-659824.
CoPilot-Driver, Lawrence E. 2Lt. O-729327.
Elliott, Jr,Robert F. 2Lt. O-394428.
Moore, Jr,Gail E. 1Lt. O-431143.
Burton, John F. 2Lt. O-728971.
Wolford, John L. 1Lt. O-423980.
Howk Jr,Frank C.1Lt. O-441475.
Little, Albert H. 1Lt. O-431231.
Snyder, Buren J. 2Lt. O-734016.
Chavis, Wayne M. 2Lt. O-728977.
Butler, James E. 1Lt. O-431382.

Alex
Sending you a pm

[RSwank]

I have been asked how we can be sure the lost plane was a P-38. Allison engines, for example, were also used on A-36s, P-51As, P-40s and P-39s and P-63s. Here is my thinking on the matter but I would be interested what others think. P-38s had two Allison engines. They turned in opposite directions. Armament consisted of four 50 cal machines guns and one 20 mm cannon, all mounted in the nose.


Starting with the serial numbers of the unknown. We have for the guns: 1190382, 1190815, 1294465 and 120206 and for the Allison engine: A-047489.

We have identified in MACRs a series of Savage Arms M2 50 cal machine guns. They have numbers on both sides of 1190382 and 1190815. The planes with these guns were all P-38J-15-LOs and all were manufactured at the same time. Their serial numbers range from 44-23059 to 44-23208.

Gun 1294465 appears to be a M2 50 CAL machine gun manufactured by Buffalo Arms. I have found 1294418 in a MACR identified as a Buffalo Arms M2 machine gun for example.

120206 appears to be a 20mm cannon, as I have found 120207 identified as a 20 mm cannon.
20 mm: 120259, 120231 https://www.fold3.com/image/28697341 (MACR for a P-61)
20 mm: 120207 : https://www.fold3.com/image/29250882?terms=42%5C-5583 (MACR for a P-61)

I think this series of 20mm cannons was made by International Harvester.

Now A-36s, P-51As and P-40s only carried machine guns, not 20 mm cannons. So I think they are ruled out.

P-39s did have a cannon. The original models had 20mm cannons but the later models had a 37mm cannon. The Italians did operate P-39s over the Balkans late in the war. From a wikipedia article (so consider the source):

“12° Group's P-39s flew their first mission over Albania. “Concentrating on ground attack, the Italian P-39s proved to be suitable in this role, losing 10 aircraft between 4 November and 3 December 1944”.

“The 4°*Stormo*pilots flew many effective ground attack missions on northern*Yugoslavia, losing only one more P-39, for engine failure in*Sarajevo*area, on 2 April 1945.”


And of course, the Russians had received P-39s and P-63s as lend lease. The P-63s also had 37mm cannons.

The P-39 model both the Italians and Russians were using, the P-39Qs had the 37mm cannon. Also the Russians sometimes removed the 50 cal M2 in the wings and flew with only two 50 cal in the nose along with the 37mm cannon. The P-63s flown by the Russians also had a 37mm cannon.

I think the fact that a 20 mm cannon was found pretty much rules out the P-39s and P-63s, even though they did have Allison engines.


The models of Allison engines used in P-39s and P-63s were different than the models of Allison engines used in P-38s. The unknown had serial number A-047489. That serial number is for a V-1710 , -89 or -91 engine. (The two engines on a P-38 turned in opposite directions and the I think the -89 or -91 were those two versions of the same engine.

The Allison engine models in the P-39Qs were V-1710-85s and in the P-63 were were V-1710-117s.

So the Unknown had a P-38 type engine and not a P-39 or P-63 type of Allison engine.