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  P-400 Airacobra Serial Number AP359  
USAAF
5th AF
8th FG
80th FS

Pilot  Captain Francis M. Potts, O-380475 (MIA / KIA) TX
MIA  September 6, 1942
MACR  none

Aircraft History
Built by Bell in Buffalo, New York. Assigned Royal Air Force (RAF) serial number AP359 and painted in a three-color camouflage scheme. Instead, delivered to the U.S. Army. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 8th Fighter Group (8th FG), 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) "The Headhunters". No known nose art or nickname.

Mission History
On September 6, 1942 between 10:20am–11:30am took off from 12 Mile Drome (Berry) near Port Moresby piloted by Captain Francis M. Potts armed with 100 pount bombs as one of eight Airacobras flying in four plane element "Charlie Red". Over Lake Myola, Airacobras from "Charlie Red" and "Charlie Green" bombed and strafed Japanese held areas. Captain Potts bailed out at a low altitude over Lake Myola #2 and was seen to land safely but no trace of him was ever found. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Fates of the Crew
Although Potts bailed out at a low altitude over Lake Myola #2 and was seen to land safely, no trace of him was ever found. Possibly, his remains were found by the Australian Army and buried in the Owen Stanley Range.

Wreckage
During July 1981, this aircraft was located by PNG Defense Force (PNGDF) personnel on the southern side of Lake Myola No. 2.

Memorials
Potts was officially declared dead on December 3, 1945. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Oakwood Cemetery in Waco, TX at block 7, lot 27.

References
Joe Baugher "Airacobra I for RAF, P-400"
"AP359/360 to USAAF"
National Archives Frame 1351 A0759 History of the 80FS
National Archives microfilm 1065 Y3 eyewitness report of safe landing of Captain Potts beside a creek on Lake Myola
80th Fighter Squadron diary
"Captain Potts was flying as part of a four element "Charlie Red" between 10:20 - 11:30 am hours. 'Charlie Red' and 'Green' flights dive bombed with 100 lb bombs, then strafed the Japanese held area around Lake Myola. Captain Potts bailed out at a low altitude over Lake Myola #2 and was seen to land safely."
Col. Dick Legg diary - September 5, 1942
Raided Buna. Nothing on the field. Lost Jackson (Smoky). Played bridge with Hayes, Marwester and Glover. Potts jumped between "Nips and Aussies."
Attack and Conquer page 83
"The 80th flew its dive bombing mission on the next day when it attacked Myola Lake. Unfortunately, Captain Francis Potts went down in the area and it was believed that he was captured and killed. Most 80th pilots mentally crossed off chances of surviving in enemy territory. "
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-400 Airacobra AP 359
Pending Cases Australian New Guinea (Search Areas 73-77-78 & 81)
"A/C crashed near Kokoda. Pilot buried near crest of Owen Stanley [range] in Kokoda Pass."
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Francis M. Potts
FindAGrave - CPT Francis Morgan Potts (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - CPT Francis Morgan Potts (memorial marker photo)

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Last Updated
September 2, 2021

 

Technical Info
P-400

MIA
MIA
1 Missing

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