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| USN USS Saratoga (CV-3) VF-12 |
Pilot Ensign William T. Welles, 156407 (POW, survived) Crashed November 1, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Grumman as model G-50 in Bethpage, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F6F-3 Hellcat bureau number 08884. Wartime History Assigned to USS Saratoga (CV-3) to Fighter Squadron 12 (VF-12). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On November 1, 1943 took off from USS Saratoga (CV-3) piloted by Ensign William T. Welles on a strike against Buka Airfield on Buka Island and Bonis Airfield on northern Bougainville. When he failed to return, Welles was officially declared Missing in Action (MIA). Fate of the Pilot In fact, Welles bailed out and nearly landed atop the wreckage of his burning plane. He was immediately captured and became a Prisoner Of War (POW). Initially, he was detained at the airfield and was not restrained or beaten. Later, he met Lt(jg) Joseph G. Nason pilot of SBD Dauntless 03359 who was brought to Buka as a prisoner. At that point, Welles had grown a beard. Together, they were embarked aboard a destroyer and transported to Rabaul, where they were both interned at Rabaul POW Camp. Reportedly, on December 19, 1943 Welles was transferred from Kempei-Tai custody to the Navy. On December 20, 1943 flown aboard aboard a Japanese bomber from Rabaul via Truk to Japan with two other prisoners: Sqn Ldr Noel T. Quinn pilot of Beaufort A9-262 and and Lt(jg) Stefan Albert Nyarady pilot of TBF Avenger 23973. Interned at Rokuroshi POW Camp (Osaka Main Camp Chikko #24) and survived the Pacific War. On September 7, 1945 liberated from captivity and taken to Yokohama then transported back to the United States. Memorials Welles died on December 25, 2007 at age 87 in Grass Valley, California. He was cremated and his ashes scattered. Relatives Are you a relative of Welles? Contact Us References Note: some references incorrectly list this fighter shot down on November 2, 1942 Navy Serial Number Search Results - F6F-3 Hellcat 08884 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List November 1943 F6F-3 Hellcat 08884 NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - William T. Welles Horio You Next Die! (1987) pages 52 - 57 The Siege of Rabaul (1996) appendix POWs at Rokuroshi POW Camp, Honshu, Japan Roster Welles, William Thompson, Ens FindAGrave - CPT William Thompson Welles Thanks to Ted Darcy, Edward Rogers and David Forrester for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 18, 2024 |
 F6F  POW 1 Prisoner |
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