USAAF
5th AF
475th FG
432nd FS

Andrew Wright 1994

Pilot  Alex Illnicki
Ditched  November 27, 1943

Mission History
This aircraft was with seven other P-38s on a patrol mission to Salamaua (Finshafen) area. It had problems and set a course back to Dobodura, but made a navigational mistake, only realizing when he passed Misima Island, then turned for Milne Bay, but ran out of fuel and ditched, 150 yards off Basilaki Island north coast. Illnicki reach the shore in his dingy.

Discovery
The aircraft was first located December 1, 1981 by Bob Halstead, from Tropical diving Adventures. The Serial Number was confirmed by Halstead who located the radio call plate affixed to the instrument panel, during a dive on the aircraft in April / May 1982.

Wrecksite
The aircraft rests in on a sandy bottom, its guns and cannon clearly visible pointing from its nose.

References
Winged Ghosts of the Pacific documentary has underwater footage of this wreck.

P-38

90'
27m