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  P-38H-1-LO Lightning Serial Number 42-66547  
USAAF
5th AF
475th FG
432nd FS

Pilot  2nd Lt. Donald H. Garrison, O-746083 (MIA / KIA) Everett, WA
MIA  September 22, 1943 at 12:50pm
MACR  751

Pilot History
Garrison flew his first combat mission on September 20, 1943, flying as wing man for P-38H 42-66833 piloted by 2nd Lt. Thomas J. Simms. He was lost on his second combat mission.

Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 1058. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-1-LO Lightning serial number 42-66547. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angles", 432nd Fighter Squadron (432nd FS) "Clover". No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engines V-1710-89 serial number 42-29678 and V-1710-91 serial number 42-93647. Weapon serial numbers noted in MACR.

Mission History
On September 22, 1943 took off from North Borio Airfield (Dobodura No. 15) near Dobodura piloted by 2nd Lt. Donald H. Garrison on a patrol over the Finschafen area. The weather was dark and overcast to the north and east. Garrison was flying in the number four position in "Clover Red" flight, behind Lt. Cloud.

Over the Finschafen area, attacked by eight to ten enemy aircraft. Diving from 20,000', Captain Daniel T. Roberts observed Garrison's right engine was smoking badly and he not respond over the radio and was never seen again.

Memorials
Garrison was officially declared dead on December 19, 1945. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Garrison is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38H-1-LO Lightning 42-66547
"66547 (475th FG, 432nd FS) right engine failed and crashed at Finschafen, New Guinea Sep 22, 1943. Pilot KIA. MACR 751."
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald H. Garrison
FindAGrave - 2Lt Donald Howard Garrison (tablets of the missing)

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Last Updated
September 20, 2022

 

Tech Info
P-38

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
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