MACR question

[Alex Smart]

Hi Nick,
Have sent you a pm
Alex

[Buckeye30]

Hi Alex. Thanks for the list; I meant to ask Frank if a plane could be "condemned" the same day it was lost.
This is P-400 # 32 as mentioned , as they didn't get any replacement P-400s I presume the only one with this tail number. I believe the 67th used 1-39 ( maybe 1-9 for HQ) as per pre-war system. Their P-39Ds and Fs had AAF tail numbers and 2-digit nose numbers on Olive Drab. The ex-British contract Airacobras only had RAF serials.



The insignia was painted on some side doors but unofficially at this time. This is a P-39F 41-7132, the number very conveniently shown below the door.

Regards
Nick

[Alex Smart]

Hi Nick,
Great that you found a picture of the "32" a/c. If this is the one I sought then it would follow that the airman in the photo would most likely be 1Lt. Keith W. Wythes, O-430876, who is still MIA, there must be an FOD report ( FOD date December 9th, 1945 ), any chance the a/c serial number would be in it (?). He is recorded as from Bergen County, New Jersey.
374 FG/67FS.
I find it odd though that the number is given as "032", why not just "32" I
wonder would they do that when other two diget numbers are recorded as such ?

I understand the the second photo you give is to highlight the serial number on the door, and that it is a different a/c than the "32" photo, is that correct ?

Thanks
Alex

[Frank Olynyk]

It is important to remember that the MACR system did not start until July 1, 1943. MACR 601 (for Wythes) and 600 (presumably for Chilson) are for events on August 30, 1942, but were prepared on September 17, 1943. I have a copy of 601 from somewhere on Fold3, but not of 600. Since the main contents of 601 is a report prepared in October 1943 on the MIA status of Wythes and Chilson, I assume that this same report is duplicated in 600. Note that there is no serial number for the aircraft, engine or guns. Given that the 67th FS can have been on Guadalcanal at most ten days at the time of their loss, and had not been in combat previously, I do not find it surprising that there is this lack of information.

Further, there were no P-38s on Guadalcanal in August 1942; the aircraft loss reference stating P-38 is in error. And as well, there is no reference to "unknown32" in the MACR; this comes from the USAAFDATA website, so one should refer to that website for the source of the "unknown32" reference. At this point I would ignore the "32" until its source can be established.

You will also have to ask Joe Baugher his source for stating that the P-400 was written off on August 30, 1942. I know that USN/USMC aircraft are typically written off on the last day of the month in which they were lost. But I don't know of any source of write offs for USAAF aircraft in the Pacific for 1942 (or any later year).

Enjoy!

Frank.

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Frank ,
Your contributions to this thread are most welcome. Importantly, you bring out detail that sometimes are overlooked because of acceptance of on line details. Indeed those "facts" should be chased up, the refs should be explored

Alex

PS
Re : Chilson.
1Lt. Robert E. Chilson - O -429020.
Shawnee County, Kansas.
374FG/67FS.
FOD date also December 9th, 1945.
Wall of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.
USAAFData has -
P-400 #unknown31.

[Alex Smart]

Hello Frank,
MACR 601 is for Chilson and Wythes. But there is one page within 601 that is for Wythes, so as I see it, 601 serves both airmen and the single page would be 600 for Wythes alone.

Within the 601 are witness reports that suggest the at least one a/c was shot down by a Zero, in flames but the identity of the pilot of tthe P-400 was unknown, nothing on the second P-400.
An intelligence report says that a fighter pilot was captured on the 30th August 1942, but it was not known if the captured airman was either Chilson or Wythes. Nore was this captured pilots fate known.

Alex

[Buckeye30]

Alex. The caption to the P-400 photo on the net says it's Lt. Pete Childress , also in the Rust--Bell "Thirteenth Air Force story". The emblem was just a nice clear image, and shows the 67th didn't only have P-400s and P-39Ds as it's an F.
There's an interesting report here on the 67FS and 11BG in the S. Pacific....
p.17 67th to the Solomons
p.21 the Aug. 30 action

https://media.defense.gov/2010/Sep/2...100928-058.pdf


Nick

PS do you remember a discussion we had in 2013 about these contracted Airacobras ?