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  P-38J-15-LO Lightning Serial Number 42-104381  
USAAF
5th AF
475th FG

433rd FS

Pilot  1st Lt. Lewis M. Yarbrough, O-749152 (MIA / KIA) TX
MIA  April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday"
MACR  4500

Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 3215. Assigned to the U.S. Army. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group ( 475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 433nd Fighter Squadron (433nd FS) "Possum". Nose Number ???. No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines V-1710-91 and V-1710-89 serial numbers A-039306 and A-08394. Weapons installed were 20mm cannon manufactured by International Harvester serial number 124473 and .50 caliber machine gun manufactured by Savage serial number 1177176 plus .50 caliber machine guns manufactured by High Standard serial number 610275, 612287 and 608505.

Mission History
On April 16, 1944 took off from Nadzab No. 3 Airfield a mission to escort A-20 Havocs over Hollandia. Returning the formation encountered a severe weather front. This P-38 was last seen approximately five miles west of Bogadjim at an altitude of roughly 10,000-11,000'. The squadron was in good formation and flying on a course of 140° and entered rough weather and was impossible to fly in formation and broke up. All planes were separated and had to reach base individually. Yarbrough was last seen before the formation broke up. When he failed to return and was listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Search
The next day, aircraft from the 5th Air Force searched for this aircraft without success.

Wreckage
This P-38 crashed and burned near Meibu village. During 2009-2010, a team from JPAC visited the crash site.

Memorials
Yarbrough was officially declared dead on February 7, 1946. He is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 4500
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38J Lightning 42-104381
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lewis M. Yarbrough
FindAGrave - 1Lt Lewis M Yarbrough (tablets of the missing photo)
Black Sunday page ?



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Last Updated
March 9, 2024

 

Tech Info
P-38

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
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