Pilot History
Hine earned Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart.

Aircraft History
Serial Number unknown. Engine and machine gun serial numbers are not listed on MACR

Mission History
Took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) on the 'Yamamoto Mission', flying north-west towards Kahili (Buin). Failed to return. Missing in action in the Shortland area.

MACR 599 states Hine was last seen four miles north of Shortland by Major Mitchell, just above the sea with one engine smoking and three Zeros making firing passes.

MACR 609 states Hine was last seen south of Shortland at 9:40am by Lt. Besby T. Holmes, seen trailing smoke or vapor from the left engine and headed in the direction of Wilson Strait, southwest of Shortland.

PBY Catalina of VP-44 piloted by Lt(jg) Harry Metke was flying a mission to supply coastwatchers on New Georgia and perform a rescue patrol USAAF mission of "unknown purpose and destination". Crew member AMM1c Charles Marsh recalled in 1994 that he observed a damaged P-38 with the the left engine feathered and bullet holes in the cowling. Possibly and likely, this was Hine's Lighting. The PBY contacted the Lightning, and it reported it was ok and had enough fuel to return to base. The PBY offered to rescue the pilot if he wanted to ditch, but instead the P-38 banked away, asked for a compass heading for Guadalcanal, and was never seen again.

Search
Searches for Hine ceased on May 28, 1943. No trace of his plane was ever found and he was never seen to crash.

Memorials
Memorialized at the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
MACR 599 was prepared September 17, 1943 by ALbert W. Price and incorrectly states the take off location as Henderson Field.
MACR 609 was prepared on June 25, 1943 by John A. Nelson
13th Fighter Command in World War II pages 145-148

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Last Updated
October 17, 2009

P-38

MIA