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| USMC VMF-212 |
Pilot MGun Henry B. Hamilton, 273022 VMO-251 (MIA / KIA) Bremond, TX 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 5045. Shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to Marine Fighting Squadron 212 (VMF-212) "Hell Hounds / The Musketeers". No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On October 21, 1942 took off from Fighter 1 on Guadalcanal piloted by MGun Henry B. Hamilton as one of ninteen 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 02085 pilot TSgt Emmett L. Anderson (MIA) from VMF-212. Memorials Anderson was officially declared dead on February 19 1945. He earned the Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. Promotion to the rank of Warrant Officer, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4F-4 Wildcat 5045 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List 1942 F4F Wildcat 5045 VMF-212 MGun Henry B. Hamilton 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 Missing Marines - Henry B. Hamilton (photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Henry B. Hamilton FindAGrave - Henry Bernard “Hank” Hamilton (photos, tablets of the missing) death listed as October 26, 1942 [sic October 21, 1942) The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign (1994) pages 117-119, 335, 611 (index Hamilton, Marine Gunnery Henry B.) 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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