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| USMC VMF-221 Fifth Division |
Pilot Captain Francis P. McCarthy, O-006235 USMC (MIA / KIA) MA MIA June 4, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Grumman as a model G-36 with manually operated folding wings. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4F-3 Wildcat bureau number 4006. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221) "Fighting Falcons" to the Fifth Division with squadron number 26. No known nickname or nose art. One of seven F4F-3 Wildcats loaded aboard USS Kitty Hawk (APV-1) as reinforcements bound for Midway Atoll. On May 26, 1942 delivered to Midway Airfield. Mission History On June 4, 1942 took off from Midway Airfield piloted by Captain Francis P. McCarthy during the Battle of Midway. This Wildcat was shot down by an A6M2 Zero. When this aircraft failed to return it was declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials McCarthy was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Navy Cross and Purple Heart, posthumously. Previously, on May 2, 1942 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz on Eastern Island. McCarthy is memorialized at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 4. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4F-3 Wildcat 4006 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List June 1942 incorrectly lists F2A-3 01524 piloted by McCarthy American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Francis P. McCarthy FindAGrave - Capt Francis Paul McCarthy (photo, courts of the missing photo) 'Summing it Up: VMF-221 at Midway' by Santiago A Flores Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated July 14, 2024 |
 Wildcat  MIA 1 Missing |
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