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| USN MCVG-1 VMF-511 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Robert A. Goldberg, O-030855 (MIA /KIA) Wilmington, NC MIA May 27, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Goodyear Aircraft Corporation in Akron, Ohio as model V-166B. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1D Corsair bureau number 57815. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to Marine Carrier Air Group 1 (MCVG-1) to Marine Fighting Squadron VMF-511 aboard USS Block Island (CVE-106). No known nickname, nose art or squadron number. On May 27, 1945 at 5:15am took off from USS Block Island (CVE-106) piloted by 2nd Lt. Robert A. Goldberg armed with a single 500 pound bomb and eight rockets leading three other Corsairs on a mission against Ishigaki Airfield and Ishigaki Town on Ishigaki Jima. The first section was FG Corsair 87828 pilot Major Robert Maze wingman was 2nd Lt. J. S. Bostwick. The second section was 2nd Lt. H. E. Gabriels and 2nd Lt. Robert A. Goldberg. The weather was scattered cumulus clouds at 4,000' over the target area with 1/10 cloud cover and visibility of 20 miles. Over the target, the four Corsairs attacked Ishigaki Airfield targeting the east to west runway diving from 8,000' in two sections and releasing their bombs from 2,000' with all four bombs hitting the target. Afterwards, the Corsairs flew over the ocean and commenced rocket attacks from 6,000' against several small ships on piers off Ishigaki. Attacking, FG Corsair 87828 piloted by Major Maze and his wingman Bostwick released his rockets at 1,500' and began to pulled out, he observed Maze's plane continue its dive and hit the water at roughly 350 knots and submerged completely. The cause of the crash was not determined but believed to be due to anti-aircraft fire. When he failed to return Maze was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Immediately after the crash, Bostwick orbited the area and saw no trace of Maze. The other two Corsair pilots Gabriels and Goldberg did not witness the crash. Afterwards, the three Corsairs made one more strafing run on Ishigaki Airfield and fired fourteen rockets at anti-aircraft guns before returning to land on the carrier at 8:30am. Mission History On May 27, 1945 at 12:10pm took off from USS Block Island (CVE-106) piloted by 2nd Lt. Robert A. Goldberg as one of four Corsairs armed with a 500 pound bomb and four 5" rockets on a mission to attack Ishigaki Airfield on Ishigaki Jima. The first section included 1st Lt. W. W. Jackson and 2nd Lt. J. M. Palen. The second section included 1st Lt. H. P. Harmer and 2nd Lt. Robert A. Goldberg. The weather over the target was cumulus clouds with a base at 4,000' with 5/10 cloud cover and visibility of ten miles. The formation approached from the east at an altitude of 10,000'. Over the target at 2:15pm, the first section attacked followed by the second section in a dive bombing and rocket attack against the east-west runway at Ishigaki Airfield. The second section dived from 9,500' five miles east of the airfield, this was the last time Goldberg was seen by his section leader who flew through a clould, released his bomb then pulled up. Goldberg was not observed by the first section but 1st Lt. W. W. Jackson reported an explosion 100 yards off Ishigaki Town in the sea and there was no smoke indicating a bomb explosion and saw an oil slick afterwards and believed this was Goldberg's aircraft but was not confirmed. When he failed to return he was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search After Goldberg's loss, the other three aircraft searched for him. 1st Lt. Harmer observed another oil slick to the north off Ishigaki Town believed to be FG Corsair 87828 piloted by Major Maze who was lost earlier that same day. After a futile search, the three remaining Corsairs returned to the carrier by 3:25pm. Memorials Goldberg was officially declared dead on May 28, 1946. He earned the Air Medal with Gold Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 2. References USMC Casaulty Card - Robert Aaron Goldberg Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1D Corsair 57815 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List May 1945 - F4U-1D Corsair 57815 NARA USS Block Island War History December 1944–September 1945 page 21 "The activities of the Marine Air Group, in providing close air support for the ground forces on Okinawa, as well as making sustained neutralization strikes against the five airfields on Miyako and Ishigaki in the Sakashima Gunto, are detailed in the Action Report referenced above (Footnote 1) (Footnote 1) Action Report for Operations in Support of Occupation of Okinawa and in the Neutralization of Sakashima Gunto CVE-106/A2-11/A12, serial: 065, 24 June 1945." NARA VMF-511 War Diary May 1945 page 11-13 (Page 11) " 27 May 1945 - At 0515 (I) four F4U's took off led by Major R. C. Maze, USMC, from the carrier for a strike on the Japanese airfield at Ishigaki Town, Ishigaki Shima, Sakashima Gunto." (Page 13) "Second Lieutenant Robert A. Goldberg, 030855 USMR, carried as missing in action." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert A. Goldberg FindAGrave - 1LT Robert Aaron Goldberg (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Robert Aaron Goldberg (memorial marker photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 3, 2021 |
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