Not a true Lightning, but the reconnaissance version thereof, these F-4s flew reconnaissance missions with the 5th Air Force in the early days.

This photo was taken from an 89th Bombardment Squadron A-20A returning from Buna when the F-4 fell into formation with it from a photo mission to New Guinea's northern coast in late 1942.

This particular F-4 has an unusual but sad history. On 16th march 1943 2/Lt William W. Morton went missing in it whilst photographing Japanese positions in the Ramu-Markham Valley. The wreckage was discovered in the 1990s on the ocean bed between Daugo and Idana Islands, just off Port Moresby.

Morton's last radioed position was over the Ramu Valley, and it is clear that he later found the Moresby area which was experiencing overcast weather at the time, and flew too low in the misty dusk conditions, hitting the ocean and disintegrating.

The only reason the F-4 could be positively idetified was from the manufacturer's data plate attached to the instrument panel which contained the aircraft's serial number as provided above, and luckily brought to the surface by one of the divers.

 

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