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| USN CAG-21 VF-21  Ruth c1940  USN c1942 |
Pilot Lt(jg) Thomas A. Ruth, O-104025 USNR (MIA / KIA) De Smet, SD Crashed June 30, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Grumman as a model G-36 with manually operated folding wings. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4F-4 Wildcat bureau number 11862. Disassembled and shipped across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SOPAC). Wartime History Assigned to Carrier Air Group 21 (CAG-21), Fighter Squadron 21 (VF-21) "Freelancers". No known nickname, nose art or markings. Mission History On June 30, 1943 took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal pilot Lt(jg) Thomas A. Ruth as one of sixteen F4F Wildcats as part of a "Rendova Patrol" mission to provide air cover over the U.S. landing on Rendova Island. The formation also included F4U Corsairs from VMF-121 and VMF-221 and VMF-213. Over the target area, an aircraft believed to be Lt(jg) Ruth was seen to go down in an inverted spin crash into the jungle east of Lambeti Plantation at Munda on New Georgia or the north bank of the Roviana Lagoon on New Georgia. It was believed this was the aircraft piloted by Lt(jg) Ruth. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was F4F Wildcat 03441 piloted by Thrash (rescued). Search During January 1949, a team from American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) team from 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company (604th QGRC) aboard USS LST-711 searched for American personnel Missing In Action (MIA) in the area including Ruth (Case #7-1188). On January 30, 1949 AGRS visited Aumba Island [Aumbaamba Island] and interviewed Mr. T. Russell, District Officer for New Georgia who had no information as he had only arrived at his post a short time ago and did not know the area. Next, the team led by Lt. Judd with SFC Sotan, Cpl Iasko and Pfc Schmitt traveled to Munda. At Munda Airfield interviewed a native named Willie Paya but he had no recollection of this particular crash, although he claimed to have assisted other U.S. pilots to safety during the war. Afterwards, the team searched the Munda beach area without results. They were unable to locate two other natives that might have information: Zoila Ponda and Zoab and were told both had left the area. They believed the aircraft crashed into deep water off New Georgia and recommended the case be declared non-recoverable. These remains could not be identified and were buried as Unknown X-31 (X-File) at Manila American Cemetery. Recovery of Remains In early 2013, a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) Investigation Team (IT) reportedly visited the crash site and correlated it to the F4F Wildcat piloted by Ruth. During 2018, the unknown burial at Manila American Cemetery was approved for disinterment and the remains recovered in 1949 were accessioned into the DPAA laboratory for analysis. On April 8, 2025 the Department of Defense (DoD) announced Ruth was accounted-for using DNA family reference samples and was identified using modern forensic techniques. Memorials Ruth was officially declared dead January 5, 1946. He earned the Air Medal with Gold Star; Purple Heart Medal, posthumously. Ruth is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After he was identified on April 8, 2025, a rosette was added next to his name. Ruth also had a memorial marker at Riverside Cemetery in Jackson, Minnesota at section 8 site 609-3 in the family plot. On May 27, 2026 at 11:00am he was buried with full military honors at Riverside Cemetery. A public luncheon will be held at the LaCanne Family Celebration of Life Center in Jackson following the interment. Relatives Dr. Thomas Horner Ruth (father) Ethel Blanche Ruth (mother) Wesley Hoyt Ruth (brother) passed away May 23, 2015 Obituary Commander Wesley Wes Hoyt Ruth Dignity Memorial - Obituary Commander Wesley Wes Hoyt Ruth (November 5, 1913–May 23, 2015 "Wes’ youngest brother, LTJG Thomas Arthur Ruth, who was unmarried, was also a Naval Aviator who was shot down in the South Pacific in June 1943 by Japanese fighters." Letter from W. H. Ruth [brother] via Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) - Thomas Arthur Ruth page 11: "I recently met another officer who was shot down at the same time and in the same place as my brother. This officer's name is Lieutenant Commander M. C. Thrash. They were in the same outfit (VCG-21) [sic VF-21]. Thrash told me that when he was hit he had to make a forced landing with his F4F near the island of Munda [sic Munda, New Georgia]. Memorials Ruth was officially declared dead on January 5, 1946. He earned the Air Medal with Gold Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) - Thomas Arthur Ruth 293 File X-File: Unknown N. G. X-31 (Finschaffen #5) pages 29, 30, 40 (Page 29) "F4F-4 #11862 was listed as lost on 30 June 1943 while VF-21 was operating from Guadalcanal. The name of the pilot [Thomas A. Ruth] of this airplane as not received. Both Lt. Commander R. Henry, USN and Lt. (jg) Ruth, USNR are listed as missing in action on 30 June 1943. Bureau numbers of the airplanes these officers were flying at the time is not known [Ruth: 11862, Henry unknown] (Page 30) "In view of information summarized above [pages 29-30], and lacking further clues, identification of Unknown X-52, New Georgia Cemetery is not possible." (Page 40) "Unknown X-52, buried in the New Georgia Cemetery, Plot 31, Row 3, Grave 1. It is noted that the body was that of a pilot and that the plane was probably a torpedo bomber." (Page 43) "15 June 1949 Unidentifiable Remains - The records pertaining to Unknown X-31, Plot __, Row __, Grave 51, USMC [U.S. Military Cemetery] Finsch #5, N. G. have been reviewed and it is of the opinion of this office that insufficient evidence is available to establish the identity of the deceased, and that these remains should be classified as unidentifiable." (page 44) "Unknown X-531 (formerly Unk X-31 Finsch #5) 15 June 1949" Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4F-4 Wildcat 11862 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List June 1943 06/30/1943 F4F-4 Wildcat 11862 VF-21 NARA CINCPAC War Diary June 1943 page 531 (Page 531) "War Plans - Daily Summary June 30, 1943 1. Contacts and Actions with the enemy in the Pacific Ocean Areas. (C.T.F.11) - 1956Z/29 - Landing commenced on Rendova... Three air attacks were launched against our surface forces. The enemy lost 65 planes and we lost 17." Argus-Leader "Decorated, Killed" August 13, 1943 page 8 "Decorated, Killed De Smet, S. D., Aug. 14.-Lt. (jg) Thomas A. Ruth, former De Smet his fighter plane over Munda air youth reported a dead in the crash of field June, has been decorated five days previously for splendid performance of duty through the months of February and March, so parents, Dr. and Mrs. T. H. Ruth of Jackson, Minn., have been advised by his squadron commander. The flier is still officially reported as missing in action, but fellow pilots have reported that, a plane taken to have been crashed in a dive in a dog fight over Munda. A brother, Lt. Wesley also a navy pilot, was decorated for bravery in action at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and is still flying in that area. The two young men are son of former state veterinarian of South Dakota, long a resident of De Smet." DPAA Personnel Profile - Lt J.G. Thomas A. Ruth (photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas A. Ruth FindAGrave - LTJG Thomas Arthur Ruth (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Thomas Arthur Ruth (memorial marker) New Georgia The Second Battle For the Solomons (2016) pages 95-96 (June 30, 1943), 304 (footnote 24) KARE11 "WW2 pilot who died in South Pacific will be buried in Minnesota next week" May 18, 2026 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 28, 2026 |
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