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| USAAF 5th AF 475th FG 433rd FS  USAAF 1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Austin K. Neely, O-743484 (MIA / KIA) Texarkana, TX MIA April 16, 1944 "Black Sunday" at 3:15pm MACR 4502 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Constructors Number 3219. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-38J-15-LO Lightning serial number 42-104385. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 475th Fighter Group (475th FG) "Satan's Angels", 433nd Fighter Squadron (433nd FS) "Possum". No known nickname or nose art. When lost, engines V-1710-91 and V-1710-89 serial numbers A-039895 and A-038386. Weapons 20mm cannon made by International Harvester serial number 124481 and four .50 caliber machine guns made by High Standard serial numbers 613589, 612023, 66506 and 610883. Mission History On April 16, 1944 took off from Nadzab No. 3 Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Austin K. Neely on a mission to escort B-25 Mitchells over Hollandia. Returning the formation encountered a severe weather front of bad weather with zero visibility and zero ceiling. Neely was last seen approximately five miles west of Bogadjim at an altitude of roughly 10,000-11,000'. Last heard on radio by Captain Richard D. Kimball. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). This mission was dubbed "Black Sunday" due to the number of aircraft lost. Search On April 17, 1944 two P-38s piloted by Captain McAfee and Lt. Rieman from 433nd FS searched the area between Bogadjim to the head of the Markham Valley, the western slopes of the Finisterre Range between Nadzab, Dumpu and the coastline from Bogadjim to Uligan Harbor then returned to base over the valley from Erima Harbor to Amaimon to Obulu flying at minimum altitude. No P-38 wreckage or parachutes were observed, but two force landed A-20 Havocs were observed, one near Uligan Harbor [possibly one of two B-25 wreckage] the other 25 miles northwest of Bogadjim. Since there were no sightings, radio contact were made during this search and subsequent searches. Wreckage In 1949, villagers led a representative from Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit (ANGAU) to a crash site of a P-38J Lightning and remains were recovered then turned over to American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) but were unable to be identified and were designated Unknown (X-File) X-5261 and stored in Manila Mausoleum at Manila American Cemetery. where a set of remains were recovered, along with wreckage of a P-38J. The remains were turned over to investigators from the American Graves Registration Service. However, attempts to associate the remains with any of the crew members were unsuccessful. They were declared unidentifiable and buried as Unknown X- 5261 Manila Mausoleum (X-5261). Later, buried as an unknown at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). During 2008, a team from Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) found a .50 caliber machine gun with one digit off from those listed in the Missing Air Crew Report 4502 (MACR 4502) and presumed to be associated with this crash site. In 2017, the crash site was again investigated and a disinterment memo was created recommending X-5261 be disinterred for DNA testing. On July 2023 the disinterment was approved. During January 2024 the unknown burial was exhumed and accessioned in the DPPA laboratory for analysis and used dental, anthropological analysis and circumstantial evidence. The remains were tested for mDNA and Y-chromosome DNA analysis. On December 1, 2025 Neely was accounted for by the Department of Defense (DoD). Memorials Neely died in the crash on April 16, 1944. He was officially declared dead on February 7, 1946. He earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, posthumously. Neely is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After he was identified, a rosette was added next to his name. He also has a memorial marker at Rose Hill Cemetery in Texarkana, TX at Block-A, Section 4, Lot 58-W in the family plot. On April 16, 2026 Neely was buried with full military honors at Houston National Cemetery at section Y1, site 183. Relatives Terry L. Davis adds: "My father had two cousins, both of whom died in the PTO [Pacific Theater of Operations]. One is Lt. Austin Kline Neely, P-38 pilot, lost near Bogadjim, New Guinea." Betty McCain adds: "Austin and my mom [Frances Sleighsinger Dolph] were dating. I found [photographs of Neely] in an old album of hers." References Marana Basic Flying School, Tuscon, Ariz. - Aviation Cadet Austin K. Neely USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-38J-15-LO Lightning 42-104385 Missing Air Crew Report 4502 (MACR 4502) created April 18, 1944 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - P-38J Lightning 42-104385 Black Sunday (2000) page 99 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Austin K. Neely FindAGrave - 1Lt Austin Kline Neely (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Austin Kline Neely (photos, Houston National Cemetery) Thanks to Terry L. Davis and Betty McCain for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated April 23, 2026 |
 P-38  Map April 16, 1944  Photo Archive  MIA 1 Missing |
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