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  P-40N-15-CU Kittyhawk Serial Number A29-568  
USAAF
No. 75 Squadron

Pilot  F/Sgt Peter Frederick Guster, 417834 (MIA / KIA) Henley Beach, SA
Crashed  August 23, 1944

Aircraft History
Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Assigned U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40N-15-CU Warhawk serial number 42-106371. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Wartime History
During November 1943, assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Kittyhawk A29-568. Assigned to 2 Air Depot (2 AD) and placed into storage. On January 17, 1944 received by 5 Air Depot (5 AD). Next assigned to 11 RSURP and 15 ARDRP. On June 7, 1944 assigned to 75 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On August 23, 1944 took off from Kamiri Airfield on Noemfoor Island piloted by F/Sgt Peter Frederick Guster as one of eight fighters on a mission against Babo. Over the target, this aircraft was apparently shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into Maccluer Gulf. Reported as "Rolling slightly onto its back and diving from 1,000' vertically into the sea. Canopy still closed when aircraft struck water and pilot did not bail out." When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
Guster was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is memorialized at Lae War Cemetery on the Lae Memorial, panel 7.

References
ADF Serials - Kittyhawk A29-568
CWGC - Peter Frederick Guster

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Last Updated
March 19, 2021

Tech Info
P-40

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
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