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| USAAF 5th AF 35th FG 41st FS Former Assignments 8th FG 36th FS  via Claringbould 1964  Justin Taylan 2000 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Richard
Culton, O-724713 (WIA, survived) Crashed April 12, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. On June 24, 1942 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-39D-1-BE Airacobra serial number 41-38351. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia arriving August 14, 1942 and reassembled at Amberley Airfield. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 36th Fighter Squadron (36th FS). No known nose art or nickname. Nose letter Z. Assigned to pilot McCoy with crew chief Dygas. Operated from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby. Later, transfered to the 35th Fighter Group (35th FG), 41st Fighter Squadron (41st FS). No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On April 12, 1943 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted by 1st Lt. Richard Culton to intercept a large Japanese formation of G4M1 Bettys escorted by Zeros over Port Moresby. During the air combat, Culton engaged a Zero, which Culton claimed as shot down. Another Zero opened fire from his six o'clock, and pieces of shrapnel fragments exploded off the engine block and a piece lodged into his neck. Damaged, Culton bailed out successfully before his plane crashed. Fate of the Pilot Culton landed near Haima village near 17 Mile Drome (Durand) and his P-39 crashed about two kilometers to the northwest. At Haima village, villagers served him a cup of tea as he waited for a jeep to arrive then was driven back to back to his squadron. Richard Culton recalls: "12 April 1943 was my 70th combat mission. As I remember we only had 15 aircraft take off that day, including 2 Australian BoFighters [sic Beaufighters], 3 P-38, 7 P-39, 2 B-25 and 1 B-26 to attack the Japanese aircraft. I never did find out how many they had, also I never found out of any other of our aircraft than those I have listed. When I got into the hospital much of what happened got very blurry. I spent 1,004 days in 18 different hospitals before finally being returned to general military duty on flying status." Wreckage In 1947 RAAF Searcher Team led by F/Lt Coape-Smith investigated two crash sites near Haima (a village near Jackson Airport). They found two wrecks in the inland swamp country: a P-47 Thunderbolt and the wreckage of a fighter, possibly an Airacobra (not a P-40) likely this aircraft. On December 19, 1980, PNG Museum modern history curator Bruce Hoy recovered the tail section and a propeller blade from the crash site. At the time, an elderly villager recalled how the aircraft crashed in flames and villagers rescued the pilot, brought him to Haima village and gave him a cup of tea. Display Since December 19, 1980 the recovered tail section of this aircraft was displayed at the PNG War Museum indoors in the back room, suspended from the ceiling. Removal During 1988, one of the propeller blades was exported to Australia by Bruce Hoy when he finished at the museum and remains in his possession. Sometime after July 2000, the tail section was removed by Robert Greinert / HARS, placed into a container and exported to Australia. At the time, Greinert claimed "[this] tail will be used in his 'P-39 project". Precisely which project or by whom is unknown. Likely, this tail section was either sold or "donated" to another organization or entity by Robert Greinert. The whereabouts of the tail section today are unknown. References USAF - 41st Fighter Squadron History - April 12, 1943 RAAF schedule incorrectly lists this aircraft as a P-47D PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-39 Airacobra 41-38351 Thanks to Richard Culton and Bruce Hoy for additional information 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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 P-39  Richard Culton |
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