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| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG 431st FS |
Pilots 2nd Lt. Kenneth M. Richardson, O-743505 (MIA / KIA) DC MIA November 2, 1943 at 1:50pm MACR 1951 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-1-LO Lightning serial number 42-66665. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 431st Fighter Squadron (431st FS) "Hades". No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engine V-1710-89 serial numbers 42-29725 and V-1710-91 serial number 42-93803. The 20mm cannon was manufactured by Hispano serial number 58280. The .50 caliber machine gun serial numbers 113249, 397617, 397666, 113511. Wartime History On November 2, 1943 took off from North Embi Airfield (Dobodura No. 12) piloted by 2nd Lt. Kenneth M. Richardson on a mission to escort B-25 Mitchells over Rabaul. Weather was described as very unfavorable for flying. Over the target, fifty to sixty Japanese fighters intercepted. Last seen being attacked by enemy fighters over Simpson Harbor. When Richardson failed to return, he was officially listed as Missing in Action (MIA). This P-38 was last seen by 1st Lt. Francis J. Lent, MACR 1951, page 8: "I looked around and saw four Zekes chasing Lt. Richardson over Rabaul Harbor. This was the last I saw of Lt. Richardson." Wreckage This P-38 was reported by CILHI as crashed at roughly Lat 4.12 Long 152.11 (another cordinate is Lat 4.29 Long 152.20) at Watwat (Wat Wat) south of Rabaul. Memorials Richardson was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized at Manila America Cemetery on the tablets of missing. References Missing Air Crew Report 1951 (MACR 1951) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Kenneth M. Richardson FindAGrave - 2Lt Kenneth M Richardson (tablets of the missing photo) 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-38  MIA 1 Missing |
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