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USAAF 5th AF 18th FG 44th FS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Eark R. Heckler, O-789908 (MIA/KIA) LA MIA January 17, 1944 at 2:00pm MACR 1774 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 18th Fighter Group (18th FG), 44th Fighter Squadron (44th FS). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On January 17, 1944 took off from Stirling Airfield pilot 1st Lt. Eark R. Heckler on a bomber escort mission over Rabaul. Last seen over Blanche Bay at 2:00pm. When this aircraft failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Heckler was officially declarded dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Honolulu Memorial Cemetery. References HQ 18th Fighter Group January 1 – February 29, 1944 (USAF Historical Research Agency IRSUM: 78048) {Page 5) "January 17, 1944 44th Fighter Squadron - Our loss: 1st Lt. Earl R. Heckler, Munson, Snell, reported missing in action. 2nd Lt. Theodore Schoettel, killed in action." 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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