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One of 6 P-39's forced down by storm at Cape York, Australia, this is Lt Charles Falletta's,he survived but one other pilot cartwheeled in and was killed.

On May 1 1942, the flight of six aircraft, commanded by Lt. Falletta, departed for Moresby. After a final fuel stop at Cook Town, they headed for Horn Island with very sketch weather information and extremely poor weather conditions enroute. Long past the point of no return and in sever tropical storms, the flight managed to locate the base at Horn Island, but after landing could be committed, all radio communication was completely lost.

After several unsuccessful attempts to land, because of weather, the flight proceeded south in a desperate search for a place to land. The flight's objective, although contrary to military regulations, was to land all aircraft on the beach or inland, and attempt to salvage them for a later flight to the combat zone.
Lt. Falletta chose an inland turkey-brush-covered field on which he presumed the aircraft could land safely on with minimum damage.
As the craft slowed to a stop after landing, the right wheel struck a small ditch, causing the wheel to fold. Lt. Falletta completed the landing on the remaining wheels and the right wingtip.
Lt. Harvey, flying Lt. Falletta's wing, made a safe, wheels-up landing nearby. The four other aircraft in the flight made emergency landings on the beach. Lt. Love was killed, but the other pilots survived the war.

 
U.S. Navy Seaman 1st Class Leonard A. Cassidy spots model aircraft on the USS Randolph's (CV-15) "ouija board" hangar and flight deck planning boards, in response to the telephoned orders of air officers, circa June 1945. The nearer board represents the flight deck, with the hangar deck board behind it. Aircraft types represented include F6F, TBM and SB2C.

 
The North American P-82 (later F-82) Twin Mustang. The prototype made its first flight on 15 June 1945. This was the last American piston-engine fighter. Based on the P-51 Mustang. Prototypes retained both fully equipped cockpits so pilots could fly it from either position, alternating control on long flights.

 
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The after-flight deck of the U.S. Navy Essex-class fleet carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) in Puget Sound Naval Shipyard's Dry Dock No. 5 shortly after arriving at Bremerton, Washington, United States, 16 June 1945. Note the collapsed aircraft elevator.

The book "Dangers Hour" describes the Kamikazi attack in detail.

 
syscom3 said:
B-17 'Flatbush Floogie' shot down, crew captured by Germans


View attachment 585245
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42-97083 452nd BG, 728th BS
Delivered Cheyenne 25/1/44; Gr Island 20/2/44; Grenier 11/3/44; Assigned 728BS/452BG Deopham Green [9Z-Q] 16/3/44; Missing in Action Poznan 11/4/44 with Tom Gardner, Co-pilot: Carl West, Navigator: Jacob Brown, Bombardier: Jack Botham, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Leo Varner, Radio Operator: Lucius Birbeck, Ball turret gunner: Ray Stewart, Waist gunner: Henderson Head, Waist gunner: Alex Shewchuk, Tail gunner: Ray Cutshall (10 Prisoner of War); on return flak KOs two engines, crashed shallow water five miles W of Schillig, at mouth of River Jadebuesen, NW of Wilhelmshaven, Ger. Missing Air Crew Report 3932. FLATBUSH FLOOGIE.

42-97083 | American Air Museum in Britain
 
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