Pilot History
Former pilot James W. Harris III adds:
"The four confirmed victories I have to my credit were obtained while I was flying P-38s with the 9th FS from Dobodura [not in this aircraft]. Late in 1943, I can't remember the date, we had lost so many P-38s from strikes against Rabaul that a number of squadrons received P-47D replacement aircraft instead. Almost immediately after the aircraft change, the 9th FS moved to Gusap where my aircraft was #71. I did not succeed in shooting down anymore Japanese planes. I guess I was not destined to be an ace.  The war closed with the same four kills.  The picture of the girl has no significance, the chew chief Sgt. W. E. White painted her on the side when he put the flags there. I departed for the US in February 1944. I retired from active duty in 1971 after 30 years of service in the Army Air Corps and later Air Force."

Former pilot Marion C. Lutes, of Oklahoma was an A-20 Havoc pilot with the 312th Bombardment Group, 387th Bombardment Squadron.

Aircraft History
Flown by Lt. James W. Harris III of the 49th Fighter Group at Gusap Airfield, the aircraft had 71 on the nose and tail, also a girl on the side of the cockpit (painted by crew chief), and the pilot's name, 'J. W. Harris', with four Japanese victory flags. Lower on the cockpit was 'Crew Chief T/Sgt W. E. White' and 'Asst Cpl  Screws'. The aircraft had a whiter vertical stripe outlined in red behind the cockpit, and red-lined US Star on the fuselage, and 'Star and bar' on the wing.

When the 49th FG converted to P-38 Lightnings, this aircraft was transferred to the 5th Service Group at Nadzab Airfield to be used as a training aircraft, by the Combat Replacement Training Center (CRTC School)

Mission History
Pilot Lutes took off at 14:15 from Nadzab #3 Airfield (Fighter Strip) to test fly this P-47 and test fire its guns in the Faita area. No contact was made after take off.

In fact, he crashed in the Finisterre Mountains. It is unclear if Lutes bailed out, survived the crash, or died near the wreck. He is listed as Missing IN Action (MIA) to this day.

Wreckage
The wreckage was first located at at about 8,200' near the villages of Nando and Tauta by a group of students 'Operation Drake' in 1979. They discovered the cockpit closed, and no remains were seen.

Although surveyed by US Army CILHI on three occasions, the site was never the subject of a dedicated MIA search for remains of its MIA pilot, and is list as an open MIA cases.

Rachel Phillips, JPAC adds:
"In 1990, a CILHI team surveyed the site. They did not find remains or personal effects. In 1999, there were two CILHI teams that visited the site associated with this case. Neither team found remains or personal effects."

The wreckage remained in situ until October 2004.

Recovery
In early October 2004  Alfred Hagen funded the salvage of this aircraft by Robert Greinert using a helicopter. The wreckage was exported to Australia.

According to Robert Greinert in 2004:
"Parts will be copied from the wreck, and it will later be donated to a museum."

Afterwards, the salvage became controversial to the PNG Museum and JPAC, who had not yet evaluated the crash site prior to recovery.

References
Thanks to Richard Leahy, Rachel Phillips (JPAC) and Robert Greinert for additional information
"A Bolt From the Blue" Classic Wings Magazine, issue no 48, page 8
Rampage of the Roarin' 20's page 94, 348

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
June 2, 2009

P-47

MIA Case

FORMERLY
S 5.50.48
E 146.02.88

Photo Archive

Leahy Interview
Visits & Recovery Feelings

Greinert Interview
About Salvage

A Bolt From The Blue
(Classic Wings)