LOSS OF AN F-4-1 LIGHTNING (P-38)
BETWEEN HORN ISLAND AND PORT MORESBY
ON 13 AUGUST 1942

On 13 August 1942, F-4-1 Lightning (P-38) #41-2125, piloted by Lt. Paul Staller O-427023 of "B" Flight of the 8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron left Townsville at 10:45am headed for Port Moresby. He landed at Horn Island and took off from there at 5:00 pm the same day. He never arrived at Port Moresby A detailed check of the various airfields in New Guinea was carried out to see if he had landed elsewhere. He was listed as "Missing in Action". His aircraft and body were later found crashed on Misima Island at the south eastern end of New Guinea. 

Photo: via Jim McEwan

Lt. Paul Staller O-427023 at Photo School
at Sawry Field, Denver, CO in early 1942

Photo:- Ron Cuskelly Collection

F-4 Lightning #41-2125 running up, probably at the Stock Route Airfield in Townsville

This was the first loss of life for the 8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron. It was assumed that he had engine or navigation instrument failure. Paul Staller was much admired by the rest of his Squadron and his loss brought the realisation that they were in a dangerous environment.

Paul attended Pennsylvania State College, and joined the Army Air Corps from Mt. Carmel, PA, USA. He completed his Flying School training at Brooks Field, Call of 41-G (26 Sep 1941). He attended Officers Aerial Photo Course at Sawry Field prior to assignment to the 8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron.

8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron Operations Log:-

Thursday, August 13

Lt. Paul Staller in ship 2125 left Townsville at 1045 for Port Moresby via Horn Island. He reached Horn Island O.K. and took off from there at 1700. He is now long overdue at Port Moresby and they have had no word from him there.

Lt. Newton with a makeshift crew left this morning in "58" for a mapping mission of the Darwin area. With Art Post as navigator, Fred Hargesheimer as bombardier, and Air Commodore Hewitt as a passenger, he will have his hands full.

Friday, August 14

We have received no word from Paul Staller, and a thorough check of the New Guinea airdromes has been made without results. We must therefore assume that either his engines or navigation instruments failed him and must list him as "Mussing in Action."

Paul did a swell job of bringing "B" Flight across, accepting and carrying out in fine fashion the responsibility entrusted him. It is a serious blow to the Squadron to lose a man of Paul's caliber, and we pray that he is down safely in the jungle and can make his way back.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Gordon Birkett, Ron Cuskelly, Jim McEwan and Geoffrey Heard for their assistance with this home page.

REFERENCE BOOKS

The Eight Ballers: Eyes of the Fifth Air Force
The 8th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron in World War II
By John Stanaway & Bob Rocker
https://www.schifferbooks.com

"The School that Fell from the Sky" - The Autobiography of Fred Hargesheimer (page 29)

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products

This page first produced 21 May 2001

This page last updated 26 September 2023