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| USN MAW-2 MAG-12 VMF-216 |
Pilot Captain Lawrence M. Faulkner, O-007129 (MIA / KIA) MO Crashed December 19, 1943 Pilot History Faulkner was a flight officer with Marine Fighting Squadron 221 (VMF-221) on Guadalcanal, then assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron 216 (VMF-216). Aircraft History Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1A Corsair bureau number 17806. 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 81. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On December 19, 1943 took off from Torokina Airfield on Bougainville piloted by Captain Lawrence M. Faulkner as part of a three plane formation from VMF-216 flying cover on a mission over Rabaul. Over the target, this Corsair went to assist some P-40s and B-24s being attacked by Zeros. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was F4U Corsair 17845 pilot 1st Lt. Guy Harmon Kemper (MIA). Some reports of short wave radio communications from Faulkner were logged a few weeks after he went missing but have never been validated. Robert Marshall adds: "More than likely, they attempted water landings (if they had a choice) and hope for Dumbo rescue rather than ground landing and risk enemy capture. I've got RNZAF reports, AAF reports, VMF 223 reports, but no one seems to have seen them go down, probably near Credner Island and probably into the water. One thing I don't have is any documentation of VF-33, supposedly flying F6Fs out of Ondonga. RNZAF reports them there and even some dog fighting Hellcats and Zekes, but no records have surfaced. Navy doesn't have their war diary, Nat. Archives doesn't have anything, almost as though the squadron didn't leave any records." Memorials Faulkner was officially declared dead on January 11, 1946. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Faulkner is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Pleasant Hill, MO. References American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lawrence M. Faulkner FindAGrave - Capt Lawrence Marion Faulkner (photos, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Capt Lawrence Marion Faulkner (memorial marker photos) Thanks to VMF-216.com and 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 19, 2022 |
 F4U  MIA 1 Missing |
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