Date:	Saturday 22 January 1944
Time:	11:44
Type:	Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Owner/operator:	371th FSqn /380th FGp USAAF
Registration:	42-13391
MSN:
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Destroyed
Location:	3 miles east of Camp Cooke, near Lompoc, California -   United States of America
Phase:	Unknown
Nature:	Unknown
Departure airport:	Santa Maria AAF
Destination airport:

Narrative:
On 22 January 1944 the FG-1 Buno 13217 of VMF-115, Santa Barbara, piloted by Lieutenant Joseph Michael Kovach, and the P-38G-10-LO 42-13391 of 371st FS, 360th FG, Santa Maria, piloted by Lieutenant Allen D Owen, collided in mid-air at 1144 hrs, three miles east of Camp Cooke, near Lompoc, California. Lt Owen bailed out and was uninjured, but Lt Kovach was killed. Both planes were demolished.

1.Headquarters Western Sea Frontier war diary, January 1944 (available online at 2.https://www.fold3.com/image/274558126)
3.http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/AARmonthly/Jan1944S.htm
4.http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/USN/FG.htm
5.http://death-records.mooseroots.com/l/206985609/Joseph-Michael-Kovach
6.http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html
7.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandenberg_Air_Force_Base
8.http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=34.732500&lon=-120.568056&z=12

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
02-Jan-2013 12:07	angels one five	Updated [Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Phase, Nature, Departure airport, Narrative]
22-Jan-2016 11:39	Laurent Rizzotti	Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Location, Source, Narrative]
23-Mar-2020 09:02	DG333	Updated [Operator, Source, Operator]