Pilot History
O'Conner's loss was the second 75 Squadron fatality to take place in New Guinea.

Mission History
Took off from 7-Mile Drome and engaged on patrol over Port Moresby with F/O Wood piloting P-40E A29-15. At 1:30, Woods, Piper, Bailey and O'Conner intercepted a formation of fighters and bombers thirty miles east of Port Moresby. Woods and O'Connor attacked the fighters, while the others two attack the bombers.

During the dogfight with three Zeros, Wood reported having seen a parachute below, believed to be that of O'Connor. A fire, possibly the crash site of this P-40 was also observed burning in the Galley Reach area.

Wreckage
This aircraft wreck or the remains of the pilot have never been found.

Searches
After being reported missing, the 39th Battalion led by Lt. Garland departed from Bomana to search for the missing plane, crossing the Loloki River and searched the area four miles west of Mount Lawes. No natives had any knowledge of the crash.

On August 29, Lt. Templeton led another patrol searching east of Mount Lawes, and found only a Japanese drop tank, and questions five groups of natives on the area.

In 1947 RAAF Searcher Team led by F/Lt Coape-Smith investigated two crashes near Haima (a village near Jackson Airport). They found two other wrecks in inland swampy country: a P-47 Thunderbolt and the wreckage of a fighter, possibly an Airacobra (not a P-40).

References
Seek and Strike page 19
PRIAM P-40E A29-19

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

P-40

MIA