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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-12 VMF-215 "Fighting Corsairs" |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Arthur Patet Jr., 0-29719 (MIA / KIA) St. Paul, MN MIA September 3, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1 Corsair bureau number 56260. 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 12 (MAG-12), Marine Fighting Squadron 215 (VMF-215) "Fighting Corsairs". No known nickname, nose art or markings. Mission History On September 3, 1944 took off from Piva South Airfield on Bougainville piloted by 2nd Lt. Arthur Patet Jr. with F4U Corsair piloted by Lt. Poehlman on a fighter sweep and bombing mission against the Lossuk Bay area of New Ireland. After their attack, as the pair pulled up they suffered an aerial collision. When this plane failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA) and presumed to have crashed into the sea or ashore. F4U piloted by Lt. Poehlman was damaged by managed to return to base. Search On December 13, 1948, the Search and Recovery Expedition reported interviewing the manager of Lakurufanga Plantation, Mr. Cochrane who directed the team to witnesses at the old site of Pikira vllage. They were told the water is about 100 fathoms deep and the crash was beyond the reef. The actual position was not visited because of rough seas and storms. Memorials Patet was officially declared dead on January 21, 1946. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Patet is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Dick Clark "My name is Dick Clark and I live in Forest Lake, MN. I am in no way related to 2nd Lt. Arthur Patet. He was however, engaged to my mother. They were both natives of a little town called Gladstone, now a suburb of St. Paul, MN named Maplewood. She and went to Pensacola to pin his wings on. The Marine Corps actually sent a casualty assisting officer to her house to notify her of his being first missing and eventually, KIA. I never met him as I was not born until 1950. My mother married a former sailor. I am a retired Marine and am curious as to events in the Pacific and my Corps history. My interest is simply historical curiosity. And an interest in the life and death of another Marine from another war. If the wreck has ever been visited or photographed, please let me know. My mother would probably like to know, also. I know nothing about or if that depth is achievable. His mother and father are of course dead and I believe his only sister died recently. I have made sure his surviving sister sent a DNA sample to DoD with the kit they provided." References USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List September 1944 - F4U Corsair 56260 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Arthur Patet Jr. FindAGrave - 2Lt Arthur H Patet, Jr (photos, tablets of the missing) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 27, 2024 |
 F4U  02° 55 S 151° 11.15' E  MIA 1 Missing |
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