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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-11 VMF-218 "Hellions" |
Pilot Major H. A. Pehl Ditched February 21, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1A Corsair bureau number 56132. Shipped overseas to the South Pacific and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11), Marine Fighting Squadron 218 (VMF-218) "Hellions". No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On February 21, 1944 took off Piva Uncle (Piva North Airfield) on Bougainville piloted by Major H. A. Pehl on a mission over Rabaul. This Corsair suffered engine trouble and ditched off Taiof Island off western Bougainville. Pehl survived the landing and deployed his life raft. Rescue Afterwards, at 12:58am Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) PBY Catalina NZ4014 piloted by F/O J. A. Hendry was alerted to a downed pilot and escorted by a F4U Corsair to his life raft at roughly Lat 6° S Long 154° 30' E. At 1:23pm landed and rescued Pehl then took off and resumed patrolling. At 3:06pm landed to rescue 1st Lt. W. J. O'Brien of VMF-216 who ditched F4U Corsair 17879. Afterwards, continued to patrol then at 5:10pm landed at Torokina to deliver both rescued pilots. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1A Corsair 56132 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List - F4U-1A Corsair 56132 Dumbo Diary Royal New Zealand Air Force No.6 (Flying Boat) Squadron 1943-1945 (2012) February 21, 1944 Thanks to Edward Rogers for research and analysis Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 7, 2023 |
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