Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
  P-38H-1-LO Lightning Serial Number 42-66???  
USAAF
5th AF
8th FG
36th FS

Pilot  1st Lt. Eugene A. Zielinski, O-662717 (survived)> Detroit, MI
Crashed  April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday" at 3:00pm
MACR  unknown

Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number unknown (four digits). Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38H-1-LO Lightning serial number 42-66??? (last three digits unknown). Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 36th Fighter Squadron (36th FS). No known nose art or nickname.

Mission History
On April 16, 1944 at 10:20am took off from Nadzab No. 4 Airfield (APO 713, Unit 1) piloted by 1st Lt. Eugene A. Zielinski leading "Agate Special" with wingman P-38H 42-66555 pilot 2nd Lt Walter H. Mikucky, plus element leader P-38H 42-66832 pilot 1st Lt Lawrence Reeves and element P-38H 42-66668 pilot 2nd Lt. Robert R. Keown. The weather was overcast from 3,000' to 6,000'.

The four plane flight escorted a single B-25 Mitchell from the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) searching for B-25G 42-64835 that force landed four days earlier. An hour and a half later, the five aircraft reached the Sepik River delta and searched the river and swamp area for nearly two hours without results with the four Lightnings weaving closely behind, until their fuel became low by 1:30pm.

Returning, the formation flew a course approximately 50 miles inland from the coast and encountered heavy overcast 15 miles south of Annenberg with overcast to 1,000' and rain. The formation proceeded towards Madang in hopes of landing at Saidor Airfield.

Instead, the weather worsened with severe weather and overcast down to 1,000' and with visibility of only 300' and attempted to turn out towards the sea to find an opening in the clouds. The P-38s circling off Yalu Point near Yamai Airfield for 20 minutes before finding a hole in the clouds. At 2:40pm with poor visibility, the formation broke up with Zielinski and Mikucky turning to the left while Reeves and Keown turning to the right.

Low on fuel, Zielinski feathered his right engine and radioed his wingman Mikucky, telling him that he was bailing out and instructed him to do the same. Zielinski bailed out from approximately 800' and landed unhurt into the sea off Yalu Point at 3:00pm. Afterwards, the mission was dubbed "Black Sunday" for the number of aircraft lost.

Rescue
A few minutes later, he was rescued by a U.S. Navy (USN) barge and transported to Saidor. The next day he returned to the squadron.

Eugene Zielinski reported:
"...we encountered a heavy overcast about 15 miles south of Annanberg that had gotten down to 1,000 feet and rain squalls. At this point I changed our course and headed for Madang, with the intention of landing at Saidor. When we reached the coast at Yalu Point the overcast was again down to 1,000 feet and a solid sheet of rain falling. With my flight still together, we headed out to sea in an attempt to find an opening in the clouds. Off Yalu Point we found a hole and circled for 20 minutes, and then I radioed my flight that I was turning to the left. My wingman, Lt Mickucky, followed by element leader and his wingman turned to the right. This was at 14:40, and the last I saw of the element. With my right engine already feathered, I radioed my wingman, telling him that I was bailing out and instructed him to do the same it being impossible to get through the weather with a shortage of fuel. I bailed out off Yalu Point from approximately 800 feet, landing in the water one and a half miles from shore. This occurred at 1500 hours. In a few minutes I was rescued by a barge, and was told that my wingman, Lt Mickucky, had crashed into the sea and exploded about a mile away."

Memorials
Zielinski passed away on August 2, 2013 at age 93. He is buried at Lexington Municipal Cemetery in Lexington, MI at NED L-82 G-8.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Eugene A. Zielinski
USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38H-1-LO Lightning 42-13559 ... 42-13559
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38 Lightning Zielinski
Black Sunday (2000) pages 61-62 (April 16, 1944), 99 (P-38 Zielinski), 117 (index Zielinski)
FindAGrave - Eugene Anthony Zielinski (photo, obituary, grave photo)

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
February 7, 2024

 

Tech Info
P-38

Map
Map
April 16, 1944
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram