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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| RNZAF No. 24 Squadron Former Assignments No. 14 Squadron No. 17 Squadron |
Pilot FSgt William C. Crosby, 436860 (MIA / KIA, BR) Auckland, NZ Crashed April 11, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Vought. Constructors Number 6269. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1D Corsair bureau number 57446. Disassembled and loaded as cargo aboard USS Castle Pinkney. On August 29, 1944 departed the United States as part of defense aid to New Zealand. Wartime History Assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) as Corsair serial number NZ5473. Reassembled on Espiritu Santo by Unit 60 on September 16, 1944 and remained for the remainder of the year. During January 1945, flown from Espiritu Santo northward to Henderson Field on Guadalcanal and assigned to No. 17 Squadron as a reserve aircraft. On January 14, 1945 assigned to No. 14 Squadron. During April 1945, assigned to No. 24 Squadron operating from Bougainville. Mission History On April 11, 1945 took off from Piva South Airfield (Piva Uncle) piloted by Flight Sergeant William Clive Crosby on a bombing mission against southern Bougainville. During the bombing run, this Corsair was hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed near Muguai east of Kara Airfield. Crosby was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Recovery of Remains Postwar, his remains were recovered as an unknown before being identified as Crosby. Memorials Crosby was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is buried at Bomana War Cemetery at C2. B. 25. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1D Corsair 57446 "57446 (MSN 6269) to New Zealand as NZ5473" ADF Serials - NZ Serials Corsair NZ5473 CWGC - William Clive Crosby ANZAC Day commemorations at Bomana War Cemetery on April 25, 2014 mentioned Crosby's loss Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated July 6, 2024 |
 F4U  MIA 1 Missing Resolved |
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