42-104086 Strictly Stella's Baby Lucky Lady

Corrected serial number of aircraft. Data panel shows it to be a P-38J-15-LO whereas 42-68037 was a P-38J-10-LO.
Object Number - UPL 24002 - Maj. Rufus C 'R C' Franklin. 79th Fighter Squadron. P-38J 42-104086 MC-F "Strictly Stella’s Baby".
Assigned to 79FS, 20FG, 8AF USAAF. Personal aircraft of Major Rufus C Franklin. Re-assigned to Lt Arthur W Heiden when 'R C' was moved to HQ. Transferred to 402FS, 370FG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) armed recce to Malmedy, hit by flak whilst strafing enemy column crashed Schwarzenbach, Belgium 26-Dec-44 pilot Capt Robert F McMahon Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 11470.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron Headquarters & Headquarters Squadron (20th Fighter Group)
- Service Numbers: 19051083 / O-423798
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-753658
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot 1056 twin engine
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 20th Fighter Group 79th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-744765
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot, Pilot
Places

- Site type: Airfield

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Kingscliffe, Apethorpe
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed |
Manston, Ramsgate CT12, UK | 23 June 1944 | Forced landing RAF Manston 23-Jun-44. Lt Arthur Heiden. |
Crashed |
Ford, UK | 4 July 1944 | Forced landing RAF Ford 4-Jul-44. Lt Arthur Heiden. |
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
Schwarzenbach, 4760 Büllingen, Belgium | 26 December 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) armed recce to Malmedy, hit by flak whilst strafing enemy column crashed Schwarzenbach, Belgium 26-Dec-44 pilot Capt Robert F McMahon Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 11470. |
Manufactured |
Burbank, CA, USA | Built at Lockheed. | |
Delivered |
California, USA | Delivered to USAAF. | |
Assigned |
King's Cliffe, Peterborough PE8, UK | Assigned to 79FS, 20FG, 8AF USAAF. | |
Other Transferred |
Andover, UK | Transferred to 402FS, 370FG, 9AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Correction via Peter Randall www.littlefriends.co.uk
MACR 11470 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database