USAAF
5th AF
8th FG
80th FS
1943 via Rocker
Pilot Major Edward "Porky" Cragg, O-421769 (MIA / KIA) Greenwich, CT
Crashed December 26, 1943 at 15:30
Aircraft History
V-1710-89 and V-1710-91 Serial Number 42-29866 and 42-93845. No machine gun serial numbers are listed in MACR.
Pilot History
Edward Cragg was C.O. of the 80th Fighter Squadron. He had 15 kills and he was nicknamed "Porky Cragg". He named his first aircraft, an P-39 Airacobra, "Porky I," and continued this tradition by naming his P-38H 42-66506 "Porky II", scoring nine of his victories in this aircraft. The mission he was lost he shot down his 15th enemy aircraft to become a triple ace.
Cragg earned the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Mission History
Took off from North Borio Airstrip (Dobodura No. 15), Cragg was lead a flight of 12 P-38s on an escort mission over the invasion force landing at Cape Gloucester. They intercept an enemy force of 20 bombers and 50 fighters. During the attack, nine of the enemy aircraft were downed and the bombers were forced to drop their load prior to the target.
Last observed in a spin after combat with enemy fighters, and crashed on the western shore of Borgen Bay and exploded when it hit the ground.
1st Lt. Burnell W. Adams (80th FS), via MACR
"The P-38 came out of the clouds, a ball of fire and spinning badly. It went in just like that and exploded when it hit. It landed about fifty yards inland on the western shore of Borgen Bay. Thinking that the pilot might have bailed out while in the clouds I stayed in this area for approximately five minutes but observed no parachute. I never did get close enough to the P-38 to observe the color or letter on the nose of the airplane... I decided against going down to view the wreckage."
Searches
Spotters from the 6th Army observed a parachute descending approximately four miles inland from the scene of the crash, presumed to be from this plane. A 6th Army Liaison plane and US Navy PBY Catalina searched unsuccessfully for most of the day after, without success.
Memorials
Cragg was declared dead on January 16, 1946. Memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
The Planes of Fame Museum has painted their flying condition P-38J 44-23314 in Craigg's markings as a tribute to his legacy.
P-38
MIA
Map
Letter Detailing Crash
