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  P-38J-10-LO Lightning Serial Number 42-67611  
USAAF
13th AF
18th FG
44th FS

Pilot  2nd Lt. Theodore Schoettel, O-749076 (MIA / KIA) OH
Ditched  January 17, 1944 at 1:30pm
MACR  1778

Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38J-10-LO Lightning serial number 42-67611. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 18th Fighter Group (18th FG), 44th Fighter Squadron (44th FS). No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On January 17, 1944 took off from Stirling Airfield pilot 2nd Lt. Theodore Schoettel on a bomber escort mission over Rabaul. Last seen at 1:30pm over Blanche Bay off Rapopo. When this aircraft failed to return officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
Schoettel was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
Missing Air Crew Report 1778 (MACR 1778)
HQ 18th Fighter Group January 1 – February 29, 1944 (USAF Historical Research Agency IRSUM: 78048)
{Page 5) "January 17, 1944 44th Fighter Squadron - Our loss: 1st Lt. Earl R. Heckler, Munson, Snell, reported missing in action. 2nd Lt. Theodore Schoettel, killed in action."

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Last Updated
December 17, 2021

 

Technical Info
P-38

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
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