Pilot  2nd Lt. John H. Mangas (MIA / KIA) (Portland, OR)
Lost  January 8, 1943

Pilot History
Nicknamed "Johnny" while based at Hamilton Field in May and June 1942 for combat training in the P-38.  There is a famous story of Richard Bong looping the Golden Gate Bridge in the Summer of 1942, getting caught and grounded.  Bong was up for court-martial for the infraction.  Over a year later, in November of 1943, when Bong was home on leave, he confided to family that he did not fly under the Golden Gate, but was turned-in for buzzing the house of a pilot friend that had just been married.  Bong said he thought he would have been court-martialed out of the Army Air Corps had it not been for the fact that on the very same day, three other pilots flew under the Golden Gate Bridge.  Well, it happened that John Mangas also lost his leave and was grounded at about the same time in the Summer of 1942, because he and a buddy “Mitchell”, were caught flying under the Golden Gate Bridge.  Thus, Johnny probably had a hand in saving the career of the man who would become the greatest ace pilot.

Overseas in New Guinea, two days in theater and on patrol, his left engine quit at 32,000' and forced a dangerous landing. On touch-down, the hydraulics in the landing gear failed, belly-flopping the plane, which washed out.  Mangas walked away unhurt.

On December 27, 1942 Mangas was one of four fighter pilots scrambled in a four-plane ‘flight’ of P-38 Lightnings: 2nd Lt. RIchard Bong and Capt. Tommy Lynch, Lt. Ken Sparks and John Mangas.  They attacked 35 enemy planes on striking Dobodura. This was the first aerial combat by the P-38 Lightning in the South West Pacific.  Seven enemy planes were immediately shot down, with Mangas officially credited with one.  Two other four-plane flights of the 39th FS joined the melee thereafter, claiming another six. For his gallantry this mission, Mangas earned the Silver Star. This air-battle was reported in the American press afterwards

Less than two weeks later, on January 6-8, 1943, during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, Mangas scored his second aerial victory on January 6th over the Huon Gulf while attacking enemy fighters defending the convoy 50 miles from Gasmata.

Mission History
On January 8, 1943, Mangas flew missions #1 and #3 due to pilot shortages, flying from Port Moresby to Lae.  On mission #3, Johnny and six other P38’s were providing top cover escort for B-17s bombing a convoy unloading at Lae.  Intercepted by the Japanese, including the 11th Sentai, 582nd Kokutai, and 252nd Kokutai. The 39th shot down seven enemy planes, including Richard Bong who achieved his fifth aerial victory to become an ace while flying in Mangas’ favorite P-38. 

At 1820, flight leader Lt. Hoyt Eason called on all pilots to form up and return to Port Moresby.  Mangas was last seen to continue making passes at enemy planes, and disappeared into the clouds near dusk.  Johnny was never seen or heard from again. 

To this day, fellow pilots disagree on whether he went down over land or water.  Flight leader Eason stayed behind for 15 minutes attempting to locate Mangas, but seeing no planes airborne in the area; he finally returned to Port Moresby, concluding Mangas was shot down.  John Mangas was the first P-38 lighting pilot lost in combat in the South-West Pacific area.

Relatives
Gary Smith (nephew of Mangas)

References
Thanks to Gary Smith for additional information.

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