MT482
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Assigned to 416th Night Fighter Squadron, 12th Air Force. Posted Missing in action in North Italy. 2nd Lt Wesley E Kangas, pilot, and his radar observer, 2nd Lt Jack C Herron, took off from Pontedera Air Base, Italy at 11:10 hours 22 April 1945 for an armed recce of the Po Valley covering the Parma, Piacenza and Mantua area. Lt Kangas and his observer were due back at base at approximately 13:00 hours. When they did not return, 62nd Fighter Wing was notified by 3-2, this headquarters. 62nd Fighter Wing in turn notified Rhubarb and Blue Sector. Rhubarb tried to call them but received no answer. Lt Kangas and his observer were last sighted on take off at 11:10 hours, 22 April 1945. No search was conducted by this unit. No reports received by this headquarters from other aircraft covering same area. Pilot and Obs KIA.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Twelfth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 416th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-870849
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Radar Observer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 416th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19148363 / O-767265
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Manufactured |
Leavesden Aerodrome, Watford, Hertfordshire WD25 7BZ, UK | 30 August 1944 | Leavesden Built, contract number 1576/SAS/C.23(a), between 30-8-1944 and 29-9-1944. |
Crashed |
56025 Pontedera PI, Italy | 22 April 1945 | Posted Missing in action in North Italy. 2nd Lt Wesley E Kangas, pilot, and his radar observer, 2nd Lt Jack C Herron, took off from Pontedera Air Base, Italy at 11:10 hours 22 April 1945 for an armed recce of the Po Valley covering the Parma, Piacenza and Mantua area. Lt Kangas and his observer were due back at base at approximately 13:00 hours. When they did not return, 62nd Fighter Wing was notified by 3-2, this headquarters. 62nd Fighter Wing in turn notified Rhubarb and Blue Sector. Rhubarb tried to call them but received no answer. Lt Kangas and his observer were last sighted on take off at 11:10 hours, 22 April 1945. No search was conducted by this unit. No reports received by this headquarters from other aircraft covering same area. 2nd Lt Wesley Edward Kangas (pilot) - killed. 2nd Lt Jack Copeland Herron (obs.) - killed |
Assigned |
Assigned to 416th Night Fighter Squadron, 12th Air Force. |
Revisions
Also see Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 14065.
(This aircraft was listed as MT4?2 of the 416th Bomb Group in Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database)