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| USMC MAG-21 VMF-211 |
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 4019. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to Marine Air Group 21 (MAG-21), Marine Fighting Squadron 211 (VMF-211) at Ewa Field on Oahu. Squadron code 211-F-11 (Mike Fox 11). No known nickname or nose art. On November 27, 1941 one of twelve F4F-3 Wildcats flown from Ewa Field to Luke Field on Ford Island. On November 28, 1941 embarked aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6) and departed bound for Wake Atoll. During the voyage, the Wildcats were repainted and had their engines, armament and radio equipment checked. On December 3, 1941 in the morning roughly 200 miles off northeast of Wake Island, the twelve Wildcats were flown off USS Enterprise (CV-6) and landed at Wake Island Airfield with assistance from SBDs from VB-6 and a PBY Catalina. On December 4, 1941 the squadron began flying 360° patrols at a distance of 50 miles around Wake Atoll plus familiarization and training flights. On December 8, 1941 at the start of the Pacific War, this Wildcat was not damaged when Type 96 / G3M2 Nells from Chitose Kōkūtai (Chitose Air Group) bombed Wake Island Airfield. On December 11, 1941 Japanese force attempt an amphibious landing at Wake Island and were repulsed by shore batteries. As they withdraw, this Wildcat took from Wake Island Airfield piloted by Captain Henry T. Elrod armed with 100 pound bombs in pursuit of the Japanese warships. Elrod was credited with dropping a bomb that hit what was claimed to be a "light cruiser", in fact destroyer Kisaragi in the bridge that caused a fire and later an internal explosion and quickly sank. Landing at Wake Island Airfield this Wildcat was damaged. The sinking was claimed to be the first destroyer sunk by a bomb dropped by a fighter aircraft. For this and other actions he later earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously. Written off, this Wildcat was stripped for usable parts including the port elevator used to repair F4F Wildcat 4022. Afterwards, parked at Wake Island Airfield as a decoy. Wreckage On December 23, 1941 during the early morning, the second Japanese invasion force arrives off Wake Island and Special Naval Landing Force (SNLF) make an amphibious landing and capture the island. Afterwards, this Wildcat was photographed by the Japanese with the fuselage code 211-F-11 with panels removed and the propeller bent with other abandoned Wildcats. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4F-3 Wildcat 4019 U.S. Navy Loss List - F4F Wildcat 4019 NARA "Report of VMF-211 on Wake Island" October 18, 1945 (Page 13) "Against the attack by surface ships on 11 December [1941] the squadron operated four (4) airplanes. First reports had indicated the presence of an aircraft carrier, and the squadron therefore retained its altitude for time after daylight... The first air attack on the surface ships was coordinated, but thereafter each plane renewed the attack individually as..." (Page 14) "...fast as it could be re-armed and refueled. In some manner a bomb dropped by Captain H. T. Elrod apparently got below decks on the light cruiser [sic destroyer] and set her afire. She hove for approximately a half hour, and then got under way again slowly. At a point roughly thirty miles south of the island the Squadron Commander personally witnessed an explosion from within her which caused her to sink within a matter of seconds. It is desired to give full credit her sinking to Captain H. T. Elrod, USMC, since it was hit bomb which gave her the initial and fatal injury." Centennial of Naval Aviation "Wildcat to Harrier: VMA-211 celebrates combat history" Vol. 1, Issue 2 Fall 2009 page 9 (artwork) Contribute
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