39TH FIGHTER SQUADRON
35TH FIGHTER GROUP
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WW2

visits since 24 September 2000

The 39th Fighter Squadron of the 35th Fighter Group were 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.

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 site http://www.st.net.au/~dunn/p38crash.htm. Good job, this is a very interesting story.

Good luck and please keep me posted,

Dan Leggett
dleggett@dlas.com

Subject:    39th Fighter Squadron
Date:             Mon, 08 Mar 1999 17:04:51 -0600
From:           Ken Anderson <kandy@win.bright.net

To John Dunbar and fellow 39'ers
Last newsletter had marvellous enclosures.

Wish my e-mail address was included in the list e-mail addresses on the back of the colored Cobra In The Clouds pic. I would greatly appreciate if some would remedy. My ability add anything, but since I am diabled and house bound it's nice to be informed - maybe a little voyeuristic.

I don't know how many had this posting from Peter Dunn. Today 8 March 1999 I just found the message two months late. I think McCormick-Deering must have built my servers computer.

It would be great if someone could help trace the P-38 requested by Peter Dunn in Australia.

Warm Regards,
Ken "Andy" Anderson

REFERENCE BOOKS:-

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

Heaps of WW2 books available at Amazon.com

"Australia @ War"

This page first produced 5 July 1998

This page last updated 21 February 2010