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-39Q-5-BE Airacobra Serial Number 42-19939  
USAAF
5th AF
71st TRG
82nd TRS

Click For Enlargement
82nd TRS 1944

Click For Enlargement

Frank Egembari 1999
Pilot  1st Lt. Maryan J. Zaleski, O-662716 (KIA, BR) Detroit, MI
Crashed  March 6, 1944
MACR  none

Aircraft History
Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-39Q-5-BE Airacobra serial number 42-19939. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled.

Wartime History
On November 24, 1943 assigned 5th Air Force (5th AF), 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group (71st TRG), 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron (82nd TRS) "The Strafin' Saints". No known nose art or nickname.

Mission History
On March 6, 1944 took off from Horanda Airfield near Dobodura piloted by 1st Lt. Maryan J. Zaleski and while buzzing the runway crashed into the jungle roughly a mile to the northwest, killing the pilot on impact. Another report says this P-39 crashed near Popondetta. The cause of the crash was unknown.

Recovery of Remains
The next day, Zaleski's body was recovered from the crash site and buried at Soputa Cemetery. Postwar, his remains were transported to the United States for permanent burial.

Memorials
Zaleski was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Air Medal. On July 1, 1948 he was buried at Arlington National Cemetery at section 12 site 4646.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Maryan J. Zaleski
USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-39Q-5-BE Airacobra 42-19939
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-39Q Airacobra 42-19939
Missing In Action according to US Army CILHI list circa 1990s, page 11 (incorrectly listed as MIA)
FindAGrave - 1LT Maryan J Zaleski (grave photos)
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Maryan J Zaleski (grave photos)
M/Sgt. W. E. Ursprung Jounral
"March 6 - Lt. Zaleski (Zero Zeke) crashed into the jungle while buzzing our engineering section
March 7 - Lt. Zaleski buried. I was member of firing squad."
Rocky Boyer's War: An Unvarnished History of the Air Blitz that Won the War in the Southwest Pacific (2017) by Allen D. Boyer
Facebook - Rocky Boyer's War March 6, 2022 by Allen D. Boyer
"On March 6, 1944, a pilot who had flown 300 combat hours and was due to rotate home, died at the far end of Horanda Airstrip, the fighter area at Dobodura. This was First Lieutenant Maryan J. Zaleski, of the 82nd Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron."
MLive "‘He was a fighter pilot’: Discovering lost family history a worthy journey" by Christofer Machniak May 28, 2022
Thanks to Frank Egembari, John Douglas and Allen D. Boyer for additional information

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

Last Updated
November 23, 2022

 

Tech Info
P-39

Photos
Photo Archive
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram