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| USAAF 5th AF 4th ADG  USAAF 1941 |
Pilot Captain Joseph P. McLaughlin, O-396289 (MIA / KIA / BR) Missoula, MT Crashed March 19, 1942 MACR 16535 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss in Buffalo, New York. Curtiss-Wright Manufacture Number 16518. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-40E Warhawk Serial Number 41-5526. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia. Wartime History During early March 1942, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF) and reassembled by 4th Air Depot Group (4th ADG) at Laverton Field. On March 5, 1942 or March 8, 1942 took off from Laverton Field piloted by Captain Joseph P. McLaughlin on a flight to Fairbairn Field. Mission History On March 19, 1942 at 8:00am took off from Fairbairn Field piloted by Captain Joseph P. McLaughlin on a flight bound for Laverton Field. During the flight, this P-40 was spotted at 10:10am over Yea in Victoria and appeared to be turning for Alexandra. This aircraft was last seen flying very low over the mountain tops in stormy weather. When this aircraft failed to arrive it was officially declared missing. Search Afterwards, reports were received that a large smoke cloud at Chapel Mountain. Search parties were sent out from Yea, Alexandra and Buxton, but none were able to find the crash site. Wreckage During December 1948, the crash site was located near Walhalla, Victoria. At that time, Captain McLaughlin's remains were recovered and returned to the US in 1949, but were unable to be identified. The unidentified remains were buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot P, grave 1035. During the 1950s, a watch, engraved with McLaughlin's name, was found at the site by locals. Later, a revolver with McLaughlin's name on it was also located. Due to the efforts of Australian historian Rick Hanning who researches World War II casualties in the Gippsland area and volunteered at the Gippsland Armed Forces Museum. His research proved a link between the remains buried as an unknown to be McLaughlin. On March 3, 2004 the unidentified remains associated with this site were exhumed from a burial in Hawaii. They were identified and it was concluded they belonged to a 20-26 year old male who stood approximately 64.4" tall (Capt McLaughlin was 25.5 years old and was 65" tall). During March 8-15, 2004, a team from Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) visited the crash site and located Capt McLaughlin's pilot's wings. A strut from the wreckage confirmed the aircraft was a P-40. Memorials McLaughlin was officially declared dead on October 3, 1943. As his flight was non-combat, he did not earn the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Missoula Cemetery in Missoula, MT. In 2004 McLaughlin was removed from the Missing In Action (MIA) list and a rosette added next to his tablets of the missing name to indicate he was recovered. On April 10, 2006 McLaughlin's remains were buried at the Arlington National Cemetery at section 60, grave 749. On April 10, 2016, Hanning and McLaughlin's family members visited his grave on the tenth anniversary of the burial and read poems. Display A display is devoted to Captain McLaughlin and this Warhawk at Gippsland Armed Forces Museum. Relatives Capt McLaughlin's older brother, 2nd Lt. Robert McLaughlin of the 82nd Airborne Division, was killed on June 8, 1944 in Normandy, France. Julie A Raupp (1st cousin once removed of McLaughlin) "Joseph P McLaughlin was the 1st cousin of my father, John Richard Eddy. His father C. Harold Eddy and Lela Elna Eddy McLaughlin were brother and sister. I believe that makes him my 1st cousin once removed. There are links on Joseph P McLaughlin’s memorial to his mother, then my grandfather and then to my father." References Note some sources list the date of the crash as March 10, 1942 other sources list the date as March 18, 1942 USAF Aircraft Serial Number lists: Curtiss P-40E Warhawk 41-5526 Missing Aircrew Report 16535 (MACR 16535) was created retroactively circa 1945 and incorrectly lists the aircraft serial number as "P-40E 40-559" [sic] American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) Joseph P. McLaughlin "CAPT McLaughlin's remains have been recovered and identified. His name is permanently inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial." FindAGrave - Capt Joseph P McLaughlin (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Joseph P McLaughlin (photo, Arlington National Cemetery photo) FindAGrave - Capt Joseph P McLaughlin (photos, memorial marker, Missoula Cemetery photo) Australia @ War - Crash of a P-40E Kittyhawk into a Mountain near Walhalla in Victoria on 19 March 1942 (photos) Missoulian "Missoula pilot's long goodbye: More than 60 years after Australia crash, Missoula man's remains identified" November 3, 2005 The Latrobe Valley Express "In Pursuit of the Truth" by Emma Watson 2016 Thanks to Rick Hanning and Daniel Leahy 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 May 25, 2026 |
 P-40  MIA 1 Missing Resolved |
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