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  F4F-4 Wildcat Bureau Number 02055  
USMC
MAW-1
VMF-121

Pilot  Lt. Oscar Mortimer Bate, Jr. (survived) New York, NY
Crashed  October 25, 1942

Aircraft History
Built by Grumman as a model G-36 with manually operated folding wings. Delivered to the United States Navy (USN) as F4F-4 Wildcat bureau number 02055.

Wartime History
Assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron 121 (VMF-121) based at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal. No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On October 25, 1942 took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal pilot Lt. Oscar Mortimer Bate, Jr. on an mission to intercept incoming Japanese aircraft. During the dog fight, this Wildcat was shot down by A6M2 Zeros. Pilot Bate managed to bailed out safely.

Fates of the Pilot
Bate landed unhurt and returned to the American perimeter and returned to duty. Only two and a half weeks later, on November 12, 1942 Bate took off piloting F4F Wildcat 5172 and was shot down and returned to safety again.

References
The Harvard University Catalogue - The Law School page 157, 249, 251, 836 (index)
U.S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938-1949 - Bate, Oscar Mortimer, Jr.
Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4F-4 Wildcat 02055
USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List October 1942 F4F-4 Wildcat 02055 Lt. Oscar M. Bate Jr.
Thanks to Donna Esposito for additional information

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Last Updated
December 12, 2023

Tech Info
Wildcat
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