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Mission No. 7, 21 August 1943, escorting
bombers from Dobodura to the Wewak Island area, 1st Lt. John
Loisel, 475 FG, 432 FS, was number 3 of Clover White Flight.
Approaching Wewak at 9,000 feet, the Clover leader yelled “drop
tanks.” The flight saw P-38s and enemy aircraft at distance
straight ahead. After combat with a Kawasaki Ki-61 Tony, 2 Mitsubishi
A6M Zeros, and a twin engine fighter, Loisel made a head-on pass
with another Tony, and saw the right wing of the aircraft peeling
off in large pieces and believed one piece struck his wingman,
Lt. Paul Lucas’ wing. He claimed this Tony as his first
victory. Loisel got one more that day claiming two Tony’s
definitely destroyed for the “Screamin’ Kid.”
John S. Loisel completed the war as a Lt. Colonel and the 475th
Group Commander, age 25, with 11 victories. |