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Fighter Sweep Over Port Moresby on May 27, 1942
Japanese A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kokutai sweep Port Moresby

Fifteen A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kokutai attack Port Moresby. They are intercepted by fourteen Airacobras of the 35th FS and 36th FS. Lost are P-39 41-7153 (MIA) and P-39 41-7162 (pilot survived).

35th Squadron [list of pilots from "Attack & Conquer" page 56]
2nd Lt. Hervey B. Carpenter
2nd Lt. Leonard P. Marks
2nd Lt. Thomas R.M. Jemison
2nd Lt. Alva Hawkins
2nd Lt. Cliff Troxwell
Capt. John Pitchford - HQ Sqdn

36th Squadron [list of pilots from individual CFR]
2nd Lt. John L. Barley
2nd Lt. William G. Bennett
2nd Lt. Paul G. Brown
Capt. Wyatt P. Exum
2nd Lt. Charles Falletta
Capt. T. W. Hornsby
2nd Lt. R.H. Jenkins
2nd Lt. A.M. MacDonald
2nd Lt. M.M. Philips
2nd Lt. R.W. Yundt

No. 14 C.D.H. PORT MORESBY
C.O.I.C. Intelligence Resume to 100K/28/5/42

Raid 56 by 15 Zeros over 7-Mile 0110/0130Z/27. Intercepted by 14 of 28 P39's and P400's. One P39 landed beach Rigo [P-39F 41-7162], pilot safe. One P39 missing [P-39F 41-7153]. Hits on 6 Zeros one probably down.

0110 Zulu Time = 1110 local time at Port Moresby [11:10 AM]

Note:
Pilot who force landed on beach was Capt. T. W. Hornsby - 36th Sqdn. He was apparently accidentally shotdown by his friend Lt. Wyatt Exum - 36th Sqdn. [See Pat Robinson's, "The Fight for New Guinea" pages 85-87]
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Combat (Fighter) Report
Lt. Charles Falletta - 36th Squadron

Special Comments "...I saw one P-39 spin about 8 times, then lost sight of him. He was over sea 15 miles off Caution Bay."
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References
Attack and Conquer: The 8th Fighter Group in World War II" appendix V: unit losses page 311
"May 27, 1942: 2d Alva G. Hawkins. P-39F 41-7153. Seven 35th Squadron P-39s got off on a midmorning alert and engaged fifteen Zeros. Lieutenant Hawkins was listed as missing in action ten miles south of Rigo."
Thanks to Edward Rogers for additional information

 



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