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| USAAF 13th AF 347th FG 339th FS |
Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38G-13-LO Lightning serial number 43-2238. Disassembled and shipped overseas and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 347th Fighter Group (347th FG), 339th Fighter Squadron (339th FS) at Fighter 2 (Kukum) on Guadalcanal. No known nickname or nose art. Nose Number 122 painted in white. The right engine cowl and tail had "Phoebe" in white in block letters. Wartime History On March 29, 1943 took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) likely piloted by Captain Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. on a fighter sweep against Shortland Harbor. On March 30, 1943 this P-38 was photographed with a group of American pilots at Fighter 2 (Kukum). On April 18, 1943 took off from Fighter 2 (Kukum) piloted by Captain Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. assigned to the 70th Fighter Squadron (70th FS) on the "Yamamoto Mission" and fired on a Betty over southern Bougainville and observed a Betty bomber crash in the jungle. Returning from the mission, he was first to land at Fighter 2 (Kukum) and claimed he shot down G4M1 Betty 2656 with Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. Officially, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) credits Captain Thomas G. Lanphier, Jr. with 1 victory (Zero sic none lost) and ½ victory (Betty). 1st Lt. Rex T. Barber was credited with 1 victory (Betty), ½ victory (Betty) and ½ victory (Zero [sic none lost]). 1st Lt Besby T. Holmes with 1 victory and ½ victory. In fact, only two bombers were shot down: G4M1 Betty 2656 Tail 323 with Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto and G4M1 Betty Tail 326 with Vice-Admiral Matome Ugaki. No escorting Zeros were lost. Afterwards, Japanese, U.S. and veteran interviews and crash site investigation revealed that Lanphier likely fired on G4M1 Betty Tail 326 and saw the crash of G4M1 Betty 2656 Tail 323 that was shot down by P-38G pilot 1st Lt. Rex T. Barber. Despite this evidence presented postwar, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) has never revised the official aerial victory claims for the "Yamamoto Mission". Afterwards, this P-38 had two holes in the horizontal stabilizer. Ultimate fate unknown, this aircraft was likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. Memorials Lanphier remained in the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and retired with the rank of Colonel. He passed away on November 26, 1987 at age 71. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 11 grave 89-2. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38G-13-LO Lightning 43-2238 USAF Historical Study No. 85 USAF Credits For The Destruction of Enemy Aircraft, World War II [PDF] Alphabetical: Lanphier, Thomas G. Jr. page 111 (PDF page 118) / Chronological List: 04/18/43 page 383-384 (PDF page 388-389) New York Times "Thomas G. Lanphier Jr., 71, Dies; U.S. Ace Shot Down Yamamoto" November 28, 1987 Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Thomas G. Lanphier (grave photos) FindAGrave - Thomas George Lanphier Jr. (photo, grave photo) Air Force Board for Correction of Military Records testimony of Dr. Charles Darby, October 17-18, 1991 (AFBMR Docket: 91-02347) "There was no evidence on any remaining wreckage of an attack from the bomber's starboard beam as related in all of Lanphier's accounts." Doug Canning via Wayback Machine December 17, 2014 13th Fighter Command in World War II (2004) Chapter 8 Yamamoto Mission by Jim Lansdale pages 137-162 Thanks to Jim Lansdale for additional information Contribute
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