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| USMC MAG-11 VMF-214 "Black Sheep" |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Wayland E. Bennett, O-020609 (MIA / KIA, BR) Texarkana, TX Crashed October 22, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1 Corsair bureau number 02608. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SOPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11), Marine Fighting Squadron 214 "Black Sheep" VMF-214. No known nickname or nose art. Fuselage code 608 (last three digits of the bureau number). Mission History On October 22, 1943 took off from Espiritu Santo piloted by 2nd Lt. Wayland E. Bennett on a training flight. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Bennett was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He was memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 2. Bennett also has a memorial marker at Hillcrest Cemetery in Texarkana, TX the inscription reads: "In memory of Wayland Edward Bennett Lt U.S. Marine Corps Nov. 21, 1922 Oct. 22, 1943. Crashed on the island of Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides". Afer his remains were recovered, he was buried nearby with another grave marker that reads "Lt. Wayland Edward Bennett Nov. 21, 1922 Oct. 22, 1943. God is now my co-pilot." References American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wayland E. Bennett "remains recovered" FindAGrave - Wayland E Bennett (grave photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Wayland E. Bennett (photo, courts of the missing photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated October 20, 2022 |
 F4U  MIA 1 Missing |
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