39TH FIGHTER SQUADRON
35TH FIGHTER GROUP
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WWII

The 39th Fighter Squadron of the 35th Fighter Group was based at Woodstock airfield.

A P-38 due to be delivered to the 39th Fighter Squadron had a forced landing in a saltpan in Pimlico in late 1942.  I am very interested in finding out more details on this incident.

The 39th Fighter Squadron was the first unit in the 5th Air Force to use the new twin tailed P-38 Lightnings. Approximately 50 "F" Model P-38's were delivered by ship to Brisbane in October 1942. They were unloaded from the American aircraft carrier USS Barnes at the Brisbane wharves and then assembled at nearby Eagle Farm airfield, before being flown to Amberley airfield west of Brisbane for final fitting out with armament, etc.

Crash of a P-400 Airacobra at Williamtown Airfield, NSW on 5 April 1942

Subject:    Re: 39th Fighter Squadron
Date:             Mon, 25 Jan 1999 19:46:30 -0600
From:           "Dan Leggett" <dleggett@dlas.com>

Mr. Peter Dunn,

My only knowledge of the 39th is what little my Dad passed on to me. He did not catch up with the unit until New Guinea and from there island hopped into Japan. One lead that I will pass on to you is Mr. Kendall W. Anderson at kandy@win.bright.net. We have corresponded a few times within the last year and I believe he attended their last reunion. At one time he was interested in posting a 39th Fighter Squadron web site.

I also viewed your web site. Good job, this is a very interesting story.

Good luck and please keep me posted,

Dan Leggett
dleggett@dlas.com

REFERENCE BOOKS:-

The Forgotten Fifth
A Classic Photographic Chronology of the
Fifth Air Force in Action in the Pacific in WW2
By Michael Claringbould

Can anyone help me with more information?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 5 July 1998

This page last updated 26 May 2020