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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-24 VMF-215 "Fighting Corsairs" |
Pilot 2nd Lt. John J. Fitzgerald, O-26468 USMCR (POW, died August 27, 1944, BR) New York, NY Crashed January 30, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1A Corsair bureau number 17722. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 24 (MAG-24), Marine Fighting Squadron 215 "Fighting Corsairs" VMF-215. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On January 30, 1944 at 9:00am took off from Torokina Airfield on Bougainville piloted by 2nd Lt. John J. Fitzgerald on a mission to escort B-25 Mitchells from 42nd Bombardment Group (42n BG) on a bombing mission against Rabaul targeting the town area. At 10:00am rendezvoused with the bombers and proceeded across East Cape then arriving north of Duke of York Islands before reaching the target area. At 11:15am hit Rabaul town from north to south without being intercepted by enemy fighters and observed only slight anti-aircraft fire. When this plane failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). The remaining Corsairs returned to land at 12:40pm. Fate of the Pilot In fact, Fitzgerald was shot down over New Ireland and captured by the Japanese and became a became a Prisoner Of War (POW). He was transported to Rabaul and detained at Rabaul POW Camp. During captivity, he was detained with Lt(jg) Joseph G. Nason and 1st Lt Jose L. Holguin who both survived captivity and reported his fate as died of beri beri and dysentery on August 27, 1944. His fellow prisoners buried his body and marked the grave. Recovery of Remains Postwar, Fitzgerald was buried in Australian War Cemetery at Rabaul. Exhumed and transported to Finschafen. On November 13, 1946 reinterred at the American Cemetery at Finschafen in USAF Cemetery No. 5. During 1948, he was disinterred again and transported to the United States for permenant burial. Memorials Fitzgerald earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He was officially declared dead on February 21, 1944. During 1948, he was buried at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY at plot 47-13-19-20 in the same plot where his father and mother were later buried in 1959 and 1972. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1A Corsair 55927 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List January 1944 - F4U Corsair 55927 J. J. Fitzgerald NARA Marine Fighting Squadron 215 War Diary January 1944 page 14 (Page 14) "Lt. Fitzgerald did not return from the flight. All other planes returned by 1240." NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - John Joseph Fitzgerald. date of report 02/12/1944 / last report date 09/08/1944 / status: died as POW, not above causes USMC Casualty Card - 2nd Lt. John J. Fitzgerald (Updated) (Front) "Remarks: MIA since 30Jan44-on bomber escort mission over Rabaul. Lt. Nason states-shot down over New Ireland, taken POW, and DD Det of death by OIC CasDiv dtd 19Dec45. Evid. of death rec'd CasDiv dtd 14Dec45." (Rear) "Nature of deseas taken fr Cas Interrogaton Form fr Jose L. Holguin 0728388 to MasCasSect./29Dec45. Also state man died on 27Aug44. (GAF). 26Dec45" USMC Casualty Card - 2nd Lt. John J. Fitzgerald (Original) (Front) "30 Jan 44 Missing in action over Rabaul, New Britain. ***AIRMAILGRAM #010303 fr CO, MAG 24 to SECNAVY. CD#33936 rec'd 2-14-44." (Rear) "MIA stat for OIC CasDiv aprox. SecNav dtd. 30Jan45 date rec'd CasDIv 1Feb45. (py) *** while on bomber escort mission" FindAGrave - 1LT John J Fitzgerald (grave photo) Horio You Next Die! (1987) mentions Fitzgerald Target Rabaul (2013) pages 318, 364, 377 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated June 8, 2024 |
 F4U  POW 1 Prisoner |
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