|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USN MAW-2 MAG-12 VMF-216  USMC 1943 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Frank G. Putnam, Jr. (MIA / KIA) Saginaw, MI Crashed December 27, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy as F4U-1A Corsair bureau number 17734. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to Marine Fighting Squadron 216 (VMF-216) "Bulldogs" with squadron number 14. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On December 27, 1943 took off from Torokina Airfield on Bougainville piloted by 2nd Lt. Frank G. Putnam, Jr. as one of fourteen F4U Corsairs led by Major Hargrave on a fighter sweep over Rabaul. This Corsair was part of the 2nd division with Lt. Taylor, Putnam, Conrad and Meeker. Also participating were F4U Corsairs from Marine Fighting Squadron 214 (VMF-214) led by Major Gregory "Pappy" Boyington and F6F Hellcats from Fighter Squadron 40 (VF-40). After take off, the formation rendezvoused over Empress Augusta Bay. Shortly after take off, Lt. Barton aborted the mission because his landing gear who not retract but on the ground Lt. Hancock heard about his return over the radio and took off to replace him in the formation but was unable to catch them and returned to base. Lt Means spotted a friendly plane down in Matchin Bay and aborted the mission to circle it until a PBY Catalina arrived to rescue the pilot. Also, Lt. Conrad aborted due to a hydraulic failure. Roughly five miles southeast of Rabaul, 10-12 enemy planes were spotted by the Corsairs taking off from Lakunai Airfield. The VMF-216 formation was instructed to make a wide turn to come in behind the Zeros and engaged them in air combat. Putnam was last seen at the start of the first attack run then failed to rejoin the formation after the combat. Major Hargraves, Executive Officer from VMF-216 reported last seeing Putnam in a shallow glide dive near Rabaul. When this Corsair failed to return, Putnam was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Recovery of Remains During the late 1940s, his remains were recovered and transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials Putnam was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously and was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant, posthumously. He is buried at Oakwood Memorial Mausoleum in Saginaw, MI. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - Vought F4U-1A Corsair 17734 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List December 1943 - F4U-1 17734 2ND LT F. G. Putnam NARA "War Diary of Marine Fighting Squadron Two Sixteen" December 1-31, 1943 (Page 16) "One was missing, Lt. Putnam. He was last seen by the other planes in his division at the start of their first run. Later, Major Hargraves reported seeing an F4U diving towards Rabaul, with two Zekes on it's tail. Smoke was trailing from both it's oil coolers." FindAGrave - 1LT Frank Greenleaf Putnam Jr. (photo, grave photo) Thanks VMF-216.com / Robert Marshall for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 27, 2022 |
 F4U  MIA 1 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
