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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-11 VMF-112  USMC 1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Jefferson
J. DeBlanc (survived) Lockport, LA Crashed January 31, 1943 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 03446. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to 1st Marine Air Wing (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11), Marine Fighting Squadron 112 (VMF-112) "Wolf Pack". Nicknamed "Impatient Virgin". Mission History On January 31, 1943 took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt. Jefferson J. DeBlanc as one of eight Wildcats on a mission to escort twelve SBD Dauntless dive bombers from VMSB-233 on a mission to dive bomb Japanese transports including Toa Maru 2 bound for Vila on Kolombangara Island. After take off, two Wildcats abort due to mechanical issues. The formation was led by F4F Wildcat pilot Lt James L. Secrest with F4F Wildcat pilot 1st Lt. J. P. Lynch, F4F "impatient Virgin 03446 pilot 1st Lt Jefferson DeBlanc, F4F Wildcat 11983 pilot SSgt James A. Feliton, F4F pilot J. B. Maas and F4F Wildcat pilot T. C. Hughes, Jr. As the target was 250 miles away, fuel would only permit the Wildcats 15 minutes before they must return. Over the Toa Maru 2 the Wildcats encountered Japanese planes and engaged in a dog fight. Japanese F1M2 Pete floatplanes were escorting the transports plus "Zeros" [sic Ki-43-I Oscars from 11th Sentai, 3rd Chutai. De Blanc claimed two F1M2 Peted and three Zeros [Oscars] shot down. Low on fuel and he was attacked by Ki-43 Oscar pilot Sgt Takeo Takahashi set on fire and forced to bail out low over Vella Gulf. Also lost was F4F Wildcat 11983 piloted by SSgt James A. Feliton (survived). Rescue Landing in the sea, wounded DeBlanc swam for six hours before reaching Kolombangara Island. For three days he lived alone eating coconuts before being located by locals who traded him for a sack of rice to another tribe, who turned him over to a British Anglican missionary who then notified an Allied coastwatcher that arranged his rescue twelve days after bailing out. Afterwards, De Blanc earned the Medal of Honor for this mission. On December 6, 1946, DeBlanc was bestowed the Medal of Honor by U.S. President Harry S. Truman at the White House. He also earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal with four gold stars and Purple Heart for wounds sustained January 31, 1943. Memorials DeBlanc passed away on November 22, 2007. He is buried at Saint Michaels Cemetery in Saint Martinville, LA. References Note, some sources list F4F Wildcat 03520 as the plane DeBlanc flew this mission. That plane was also assigned to VMF-112 and lost in early 1943. Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4F-4 Wildcat 03446 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List - F4F Wildcat 03446 pilot Lt Deblane [sic DeBlanc] NARA Marine Fighting Squadron (VMF-112) War Diary October 15, 1942–February 13, 1943 pages 81-82, 102 (Pilot Records) (Page 81) "31 January 1943... 3. Lt. Secrest's flight. of Lts Lynch, DeBlanc and StfSgt Feleton [sic Feliton] and Lts Maas and Hughes escorted a striking force of TBF and SBD to attack shipping on [sic in] Vella Gulf... DeBlanc was hit and he was seen to bail out at a very low altitude (200 feet) and his parachute was seen in the trees [sic he landed in the sea] at the north-western tip of Kolobangara Island." (Page 82) "January 31, 1943 (Cont) It is fervently hoped the friendly natives have reached him [DeBlanc] before the enemy patrols. Staff Sergeant Feliton was also with Secrest and DeBlanc and was last seen by Lt Secrest making a run on one of DeBlancs attackers. Lt Lynch believes he saw him parachute into Vella Gulf [sic, this was Deblanc]. Although the particulars concerning Staff Sergeant Feliton are meager on this particular contact all returning pilots praised his aggresiveess and skill in the combat. All the SBD and TBF returned safely. Score: Lt. DeBlanc - - - - - 2 Flat Biplanes [F1M2 Petes], 1 (3) Zero Fighter Lt. Maas - - - - - - 1 Zero Fighter Lt Lynch - - - - - - 1 Zero Fighter Lt DeBlanc and StfSgt Feliton - - Missing In Action." Toa Maru No. 2 by Charles Darby Conservation Development Services, New Zealand Nakajima’s Fragile Falcon by Jon Guttman painting by Jack Fellows FindAGrave - Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc, Sr (photo, grave photo) Stars & Stripes (1995) pages 228-229 (DeBlanc Jefferson Joseph) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 20, 2024 |
 Wildcat  Medal of Honor Citation |
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