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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-23 VMO-251 |
Pilot TSgt Emmett L. Anderson, 273022 VMO-251 (MIA / KIA) Gordon, NE MIA October 21, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Grumman Corporation in Bethpage, New York as a model G-36 with manually operated folding wings. Delivered to the United States Navy (USN) as F4F-4 Wildcat bureau number 02085. Shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (1st MAW), Marine Aircraft Group 23 (MAG-23) to Marine Observation Squadron 251 (VMO-251). No known nickname or nose art. Attached to Marine Fighting Squadron 212 (VMF-212) "Hell Hounds" at Fighter 1 on Guadalcanal. Mission History On October 21, 1942 took off from Fighter 1 on Guadalcanal piloted by TSgt Emmett L. Anderson as one of nineteen Wildcats that scrambled to intercept a Japanese air raid against Guadalcanal. This Wildcat was as part of the second division led by F4F Wildcat pilot Lt. Col Carl C. Rooney from VF-71. The Japanese formation included G4M1 Bettys from 751 Kokutai (751 Air Group) escorted by A6M Zeros from Tainan Kokutai (Tainan Air Group), 2nd Kokutai (2nd Air Group) and 6th Kokutai (6th Air Group). After the Bettys bomb Fighter 1, a dog fight began and this Wildcat was never seen again. Several A6M Zeros from Tainan Kokutai including PO1c Ōta Toshio and 2nd Kokutai plus gunners aboard the G4M1 Bettys made claims for several F4F Wildcats as shot down. When this plane failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost is F4F-4 Wildcat 5045 pilot MGun Henry B. Hamilton (MIA) from VMF-212. Memorials Anderson was officially declared dead on February 19 1945. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4F-4 Wildcat 02085 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List 1942 F4F Wildcat 02085 VMO-251 TSgt Emmett L. Anderson MIA NARA "Marine Air Group 23 (MAG-23) War Diary page 92 (October 21, 1942) " October 21, 1942.... 1245 Air raid. 7 VB and 20 Zeros over field encountered by 19 F4F's. 6 Zeros shot down, AA claimed one VB and one smoking. T. Sgt F. L. Anderson, VMO-251, and MG H. B. Hamilton, VMF-212 failed to return. One U.S. parachutist seen at bearing 60° but not recovered. Enemy planes shot down by following pilots..... MG H. B. Hamilton, VMF-212 and T. Sgt S. L. Anderson, VMO-251, failed to return. Aviation photo laboratory destroyed by bombs." Kodochosho 751 Kōkūtai, October 21, 1942 Kodochosho Tainan Kōkūtai, October 21, 1942 Kodochosho 2nd Kōkūtai, October 21, 1942 Kodochosho 6th Kōkūtai, October 21, 1942 War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel [Illinois] U.S. Navy 1946 page 4 Anderson, Emmett L. Missing Marines - Emmett L. Anderson (photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Emmett L. Anderson FindAGrave - TSGT Emmett Lawrence Anderson (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - TSGT Emmett L. Anderson (photo, Gordon Cemetery) The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign (1994) pages 335, 604 (index Anderson, Emmett L.) Guadalcanal Tome II (2015) pages 114-115 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 12, 2023 |
 Wildcat  MIA 1 Missing |
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