Aircraft History
Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 13th Air Force, 347th Fighter Group, 68th Fighter Squadron. No known nose art or nickname. When lost, engine V-1710-85 serial number 42-98446. Weapon serial numbers unavailable.

Mission History
On September 6, 1943 took off from Fighter 2 Airfield on Guadalcanal for a strafing mission against Shortland, and afterwards would land at Segi Airfield. The weather was fair with scattered showers and broken overcast from 10-11,000'. This Airacobra failed to return and was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was P-39N 42-18798.

1st Lt. Joseph F Wehner adds in MACR 690:
"I last saw Lt Capa at 4,000' two or three miles south west of Morgause Island [Magusaiai]. His plane was under control and was not burning, smoking nor appeared to be hit by enemy fire. There were several Zeros near him but his altitude at the time left every possibility for bailing out or making a safe water landing, in the event he was shot down. Unfortunately, I was hit by enemy fire at the time, was disabled and forced to return to base and did not see Lt. Capa again."

Memorials
Capa was declared dead the day of the mission. Memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
Missing Air Crew Report 690 (MACR 690)
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Andrew Capa
FindAGrave - 1Lt Andrew Capa (tablets of the missing photo)

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Last Updated
February 4, 2018