World War II

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R4D-1 01981 (#81), VMJ-253

9 Oct 1942

Crashed into mountain at Tontouta, possibly after engine failure during takeoff.

Maj. Walter Frear “Skip” Kimball, pilot

2nd Lt. Donald E. Griffin, co-pilot

Cpl. John Robert "Bobby" Troup, navigator

Cpl. Charles W. Mottram, Jr., flight mechanic

Pfc. Charles David "Dave" Vestal, radio operator

Passengers:​

Sgt. Edward F. Giczkowski, VMSB-141

Cpl. Harry R. Merriner, VMSB-141
Pvt. William F. Fromhold, Jr., VMSB-141
 

R4D-1 04696 (#96), VMJ-253

13 Nov 1942

Exploded off Kukum Bay, Guadalcanal.  All MIA (Manila)

2nd Lt. Joseph N. Abel, pilot

S/Sgt Arthur F. Dowers, Jr., co-pilot

Lt(jg) Thomas Jorgensen, navigator, VP-11

Cpl. Roman D. Freise, flight mechanic

Pfc. John R. Matuszak, radio operator

PhM3/c Paul A. Westerman, hospital corpsman, HqSq-25

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C-47 41-18573 ("Risky"), 13th TCS

13 Jan 1943

Disappeared between Guadalcanal and Espiritu Santo.  All MIA (Manila)

1st Lt. Neal Allen, pilot

2nd Lt. Louis Nelson, co-pilot

2nd Lt. Ralph Saltsman, navigator

M/Sgt John Rinaldi, crew chief

Cpl. James Stratton, radio operator

1st Lt. Burton Hall, medical corpsman, 801st Medical Squadron, AET

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R4D-1 05055 (#55), VMJ-152

27 Apr 1943

Ditched in Tontouta Bay off New Caledonia during storm

Cpl. John H. Westaby, navigator, sole fatality

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R4D-5 12406, HqSq-25

8 Jun 1943

Crashed after takeoff from Tontouta; engine failure and stall.

1st Lt. Neal G. Williams, pilot

1st Lt. Robert W. Kirkpatrick, co-pilot

Cpl. Lewis R. Baughman, navigator, MIA (Honolulu)

Pfc. Keith W. Horney, flight mechanic

Sgt. John H. Clarke, radio operator

PhM2/c Robert L. Barr, hospital corpsman

Passengers:

Lt(jg) Paul E. Babel, VT-11

PhM2/c Charles S. Ball, VT-11

ARM2/c Robert H. Barnes, VT-11

Lt(jg) Donald R. Burke, VT-11

ARM2/c Carl L. Cobb, VT-11

ARM2/c Alley B. Conrad, VT-11

Lt. Virgil E. Flynn, VT-11

Lt.Cdr. Weldon L. Hamilton, Air Group Eleven

ARM2/c Ordien F. Herr, VT-11

Lt. John C. Livezey, VT-11

Lt.Col. Paul Moret, HqSq 1st Marine Air Wing

ARM2/c William T. Owens, VT-11, MIA (Honolulu)

CAP Sidney W. Quick, VT-11

AMM2/c Bernard G. Robinson, VT-11

Col. Joseph E.H. Stevenot, U.S. Army

ARM2/c Ellwin A. Teal, VT-11

Lt(jg) William R. Weiss, VT-11

AOM1/c Jack F. Young, VT-11

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C-47 42-23711, 64th TCS

5 Sept 1943

(May not have been a SCAT mission)

Crashed on Espiritu Santo during flight from Guadalcanal; one survivor.

1st Lt. Robert H. Healy, pilot

2nd Lt. Augustus W. Miller, co-pilot

M/Sgt. Harry Wlodarsky, crew chief

Cpl. Joseph E. O’Connell, radio operator

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C-47 41-18675, 64th TCS (aircraft assigned to 63rd TCS)

23 Nov 1943

Crashed in  Nakéty Bay, New Caledonia, en route to Espiritu Santo; MIA (Manila/Bourail)

2nd Lt. Philip C. Anders, pilot

2nd Lt. Richard L. Harpe, co-pilot

2nd Lt. George S. Richardson, navigator

S/Sgt. Carl F. Boeckmann, crew chief

S/Sgt. Lawrence N. Pitkus, radio operator

CPhM Clarence B. Latham, hospital corpsman, HqSq-25 (appears in the rolls as “Charles”)

Passengers:

Sgt. Francis L. Ballman, VMTB-232

S/Sgt. Donald E. Barker, VMTB-232

1st Lt. Robert V. Carter, VMTB-232

Cpl. William C. Childers, VMTB-232

Sgt. John D. Comeau, VMTB-232

1st Lt. Lyman H. Grover, VMTB-232

Pfc. Roy L. Heritage, VMTB-232

AC1 Ronald W. Knap, RNZAF

Sgt. Jack C. Knight, VMTB-232

1st Lt. Elden E. Leach, VMTB-232

Sgt. Robert J. Nichols, VMTB-232

Cpl. Raleigh T. Parson, VMTB-232

AC2 John W. Payne, RNZAF

Pfc. Joseph J. Poreira, VMTB-232

1st Lt. Thad D. Reed, VMTB-232

Capt. Vernon G. Rubincam, VMTB-232

Pfc. Harold C. Soukup, VMTB-232

AC1 David S. White, RNZAF

Pfc. Winthrop D. Yadon, VMTB-232

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R4D-5 12432, VMJ-153 (aircraft likely assigned to VMJ-253)

27 Dec 1943

Appears to have caught fire and crashed near Uvea Island (Loyalty Islands, between Fiji and Samoa); some wreckage retrieved but aircraft not recovered; MIA (Honolulu)

Capt. Reynolds H. Knotts, pilot

MT/Sgt. Louis W. McCay, co-pilot

2nd Lt. John T. Felts, Jr., navigator

MT/Sgt. Opal C. Hughes, crew chief, VMJ-253

Sgt. James G. Duignan, radio operator

Passengers:

ARM2/c William H. Beltz, VB-98

ARM1/c Dirk B. Boonstra,VB-98

Cdr. Charles E. Brunton, VB-98

ARM2/c William L. Daugherty, VB-98

ARM2/c John J. Dhuyvetters, VB-98

ARM2/c Lewis J. Fenton, VB-98

ARM1/c Earl B. Fuller, VB-98

Lt(jg) August G. Kafer, VB-98

Lt. William R. Larson, VC-38

Lt.Cmdr. John R. Little, VB-98

ARM2/c William E. Luby, VB-98

Lt(jg) Norman W. Mackie, VB-98

ARM2/c Mauritz H. Nelson, VB-98

Lt(jg) Glenn G. Parker, VB-98

ARM2/c Edwin L. Spangler, Jr., VB-98

Lt. Kenneth R. Speer, VB-98

ARM1/c Francis J. Storm, VB-98

ARM2/c Eugene F. Sutton, VB-98

ARM2/c John F. Werner, VB-98

Lt(jg) Donald E. Winters, VB-98

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C-47 42-24418, 63rd TCS

4 Feb 1944

Lost on a flight from Tontouta to Pekoa, Espiritu Santo; MIA (Honolulu)

1st Lt. Merrill V. Fink, pilot

2nd Lt. Russel A. Buzard, co-pilot

2nd Lt. Joshua Morris, navigator

S/Sgt Edward A. Croteau, crew chief

Pvt. Norman Weinstein, radio operator

S/Sgt Robert A. Mock, passenger/assistant radio operator

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R4D-5 12434, VMJ-253

6 Feb 1944

Crashed near Talina Island in the Russells (island is near path of Banika/Sunlight).  Originally reported missing on flight from Ondonga to Banika. 

Capt. Joseph E. Wheeler, pilot

Capt. Thomas Keppelman, pilot

2nd Lt. David I. Schwartz, navigator

S/Sgt. James E. Kaufield, student navigator

T/Sgt. William N. Pappageorge, crew chief

Cpl. Curtis Holt, radio operator

Passengers:

Pfc. Kenneth E. Kaiser, USAAF

T/Sgt James J. Kenney, SMS-14

Cpl. Weldon G. Luskin, SMS-14

Cpl. Edward A. Malwitz, SMS-14

Cpl. Benjamin W. Millstone, SMS-14

17 passengers not yet identified (all KIA)

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Jeep Accident, Espiritu Santo

26 April 1944

PhM2/c Barney V. Alsbrooks, HqSq-25

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R4D-5 39073 (#93), VMJ-152

18 May 1944

Missing on flight from Bougainville to Guadalcanal (Manila)

1st Lt. Richard O. Haralson, pilot

1st Lt. Jack W. Glover, co-pilot

Sgt. Daniel Bate, Jr., navigator

S/Sgt. Norman L. Myers, crew chief

Pfc. Charles H. Bakewell, radio operator

2nd Lt. Eloise M. Richardson, flight nurse, 801st MAETS

MT/Sgt. William Edward Lane, student navigator, HqSq-25 (appears in some records and in the ABMC database as Edward W. Le Vine)

Passengers:

Capt. Johnson B. Allen, 21st Reconnaissance Troop, Americal Division

2nd Lt. Richard A. Butler, 161st Signal Photographic Co.

2nd Lt. Harold L. Galbraith, Army Medical Corps, 43rd Infantry Division

1st Lt. George S. Gerst, 57th Engineer Bn., Americal Division

PhM3/c William D. Hay, USN

St3/c Alex M. Kendrick, ACORN-26, USN

2nd Lt. Carol J. Kowalski, 706th Army Postal Unit

Lt. Col. Everett Mersereau, 182nd Infantry Regt., Americal Division

S/Sgt. Robert E. Quinn, 131st Army Ground Forces Band

CMM Horace Register, USN

Sgt. Wilbert H. Sann, 17th Photo Reconnaissance Sq.

1st Lt. Wayburn W. Schossow, 551st Signal Air Warning Bn.

BM1/c Harvey O. Slonaker Jr., USCG

Pfc. Frederick A. Westenfelder, SMS-24, MAG-24

BM1/c William E. Ziegert, USCG

COX Vernon W. Zimowski, USCG

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R4D-5 17180, VMR-153

12 Jul 1944

Crashed on Marau Peak, Guadalcanal, during severe weather; one survivor.

Maj. Edward H. Megson, pilot

2nd Lt. John M. Talbot, co-pilot

Sgt. Philip Greenberg, flight mechanic

Pfc. John J. Keniery, navigator

Cpl. Joseph M. Mendelsohn, radio operator

Capt. Charles J. Shaeffer, HqSq-25, passenger

Other Passengers:

S/Sgt. Ralph R. Engle, VMSB-236

Cpl. Alfred F. Glass, VMSB-235

Sgt. Robert J. Mischo, VMSB-236

Lt. Woodman B. Pomeroy, USN, VMSB-241

Pfc. Earl V. Salkeld, VMSB-236

Cpl. Wilmer K. Schmoyer, VMSB-236

Cpl. Russell W. Somerville, VMSB-235

Pfc. Donovan E. Walton, VMSB-235

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R4D-5 39086 (#36), VMR-153

7 Oct 1944

Crashed on Vella Lavella during storm

1st Lt. James A. Walker, pilot

1st Lt. Donald M. Wilkie, co-pilot

Cpl. John H. Chapman, navigator

Sgt. Richard C. Roos, student navigator

Cpl. Kenneth E. Singley, flight mechanic

Cpl. Oscar R. Mueller, radio operator

T3 Eugene T. Barr, medical corpsman, 801st MAES

12 passengers not yet identified; 3 survivors

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Maj. Max Clinkinbeard, VMR-152 (Manila)

MIA piloting SBD-6 BuNo 54785 of VMSB-133 off Bougainville during familiarization flight, 1 Nov 1944

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Capt. Sigurd J. Simonson, VMR-152

Originally declared MIA (Manila), subsequently recovered.

KIA aboard PBJ BuNo 35243 of VMB-611 near Davao, Philippines, while serving as an observer during a combat mission, 30 May 1945

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Cpl. Rudolph Noga, VMR-153 (Manila)

Killed in on-duty accident, 11 Jan 1946