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Pilot 1st Lt John Guttel, O-367709 (MIA / KIA) Boston, MA Crashed August 21, 1943 MACR none Pilot History John Guttel was born in 1917 in Boston, Massachusetts. He graduated college with a four year degree and was working as a chemical engineer. On April 28, 1941 enlisted in the U.S. Army as an aviation cadet with serial number 13030061. Sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Guttel was assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) as a fighter pilot. He flew approximately 110 combat missions before he went Missing In Action (MIA). Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38 Lightning model and serial number unknown. Likely, this aircraft was either a P-38G or P-38H. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) "Headhunters". No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On August 21, 1943 around 10:00am took off from 3-Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt John Guttel as one of sixteen P-38s providing close escort for B-25 Mitchells on a strike mission against Dagua and But near Wewak. This aircraft was part of a four plane element led by Norbert "Norb" Ruff. Inbound, Ruff experienced an oil pressure failure and aborted the mission and turned his flight over to 1st Lt John Guttel and returned to base alone. During the flight, there was an overcast over the mountains and scattered clouds over the Wewak area. Roughly fifteen miles south of Dagua, the formation was intercepted by approximately 20-40 enemy aircraft and a dog fight began with U.S. aircraft claiming eleven enemy fighters shot down. During the air combat, one P-38 smoking badly was seen in the vicinity of Dagua and was last seen going through the clouds at 1,000' and was never seen again. When this aircraft failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was P-38 pilot Feehan (MIA) and P-38 pilot Krisher (MIA). Memorials Guttel was officially declared dead on January 12, 1946. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John Guttel No Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) was created for this loss NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File does not list John Guttel as an official POW of the Japanese American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John Guttel FindAGrave - 1Lt John Guttel (tablets of the missing) Ruff Stuff (2006) page 128 "John Guttel was one of the few Jewish pilots [in the 80th FS]. Guttel was part of one of the most costly missions flown by the 80th on August 21, 1943; one that still affects Norb today. None of the other pilots who returned from this mission knew what had happened to them." MacArthur's Eagles: The U.S. Air War Over New Guinea, 1943-1944 (2005) pages 84, 86, 341 (Page 84) "The 80th lost 2nd Lts. Robert E. Feehan, John Guttel, and Elwood G. Krisher." Japanese Army Air Force Fighter Units And Their Aces appendix PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38 Lightning piloted by Guttel Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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