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| USN VF-34 |
Pilot Lt J. P. Knight (rescued) Crashed April 29, 1944 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 09012. Shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SOPAC). Wartime History Assigned to Fighting Squadron 34 (VF-34). No known nickname, nose art or tail code. Mission History On April 29, 1944 took off from Nissan Airfield (Green) piloted by Lt J. P. Knight on a mission to strafe two enemy gunboats that were actually U.S. Navy (USN) PT Boats PT-347 and PT-346 three miles inside the enemy demarcation line located at the northwest tip of the Gazelle Peninsula the northern coast of New Britain. Strafing the gun boats, this Corsair was shot down by machine gun fire from the PT Boats firing in self defense. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F6F-3 Hellcat 09012 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List April 1944 - F6F Hellcat 09012 NARA "Fighting Squadron 34 War Diary - February 13, 1944 to May 2, 1944 page 8 (Page 8) "6. On the 29th, the fifth and last casualty of the tour took place. In the morning Lt. Whited returned from a New Ireland sweep with light AA hits in his wings, engine, and tail. That afternoon Lt. Knight's and Lt. Shew's divisions were scrambled to cover SBD's and TBF's sent to attack two Jap gun boats [misidentified U.S. Navy (USN) PT Boats] which had previously been sighted and attacked by another squadron." 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 |
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