34th

31 July 1942: LT John W. Engman of the 18th Fighter Squadron, 343rd FG loses control of his P-40E on takeoff at Cold Bay, AK. The aircraft, serial 41-7516, was a complete write-off.

The ground crew assigned to CAPT J.T. Robbins' first "Jandina" (probably P-38J serial 42-67590) of the 80th Fighter Squadron "Headhunters," 8th FG.

Only Robbin's third and fourth aircraft were named "Jandina," for "Jay" And Ina. Ina being the Australian Nurse who became his wife. This was his second P-38, and had the name "Betty" on the left nacelle. Betty and Ina, both Nurses, didn't like each other much. By the way, Robbins pronounced Jandina as if in Spanish, ie "Juandina." This info comes from Jay Robbins son, Lt Col Robbie Robbins, a fellow F-16 driver and fellow former 80th FS member.

There is one problem with all this. Frank Olynyk who has researched basically all US fighter records states that Robbins claimed his first three victories with P-38G 43-2382 and eight more in P-38H 42-66820, Looking in other various books/Internet he was then probably assigned his first J-model 42-67590 which was named Betty. After that I only have 42-103988 Jandina III and 43-28832 Jandina IV. So if we don't have any P-38's named Jandina I and Jandina II, the Jandina III is Robbins fourth Lightning and Jandina IV his fifth.... Stig

Okay, here's the way this rolls. Visible on the nose are the last three digits of the Lockheed construction number: 101. The earliest possibility of a match would most likely be c/n 2101, which equates to AAF serial 42-67590.

Good spotting Gerry Saw those digits but didn't draw any conclusions and the letter A didn't help either.... :-) Stig

Probably B-26 serial 40-1363 of the 19th Bomb Squadron, 22nd BG. Damaged in combat over Lae on 6 September 1942, her crew had to make a belly-landing upon their return; she was repaired and returned to service.