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| USN USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) VF-18  USN c1942 |
Pilot Ensign Robert W. Beedle, O-263907 (MIA / KIA) O'Fallon, IL MIA January 4, 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 26100. Wartime History Assigned to USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) to Fighting Squadron 18 (VF-18). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On January 4, 1944 took off from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) piloted by Ensign Robert W. Beedle as one of eighteen Hellcats from the squadron on a mission (Strike III - Kavieng) to escort SBD Dauntless dive bombers over Kavieng on New Ireland. This aircraft was flying as wingman for Lt. Commander S. L. Silber leading the first division. After the SBDs made their dive bombing run, Silber and Beedle were 500' above them and weaved to maintain the same speed. After the SBDs reached a point near Vutte Island, Silber on the left side of the formation observed four A6M Zeros approaching the SBDs from the two o'clock high and a second group of two or three more at 5 o'clock, above and behind this aircraft. Immediately, Silber turned sharply to intercept and fired at a Zero causing it to break away. Meanwhile, other Zeros attacked with one attacking Beedle from the rear and also hit Silber's aircraft with 20mm cannon fire and took evasive maneuvers and assumed Beedle was hit during the same attack. Afterwards, Beedle was observed going into a loop, flying straight over the water as if he was attempting to ditch, was firing its guns before the left wing dipped into the water causing it to crash. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Beedle was officially declared dead on January 5, 1945. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Beedle is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Relatives William Franklin Beedle Jr. / William Holden (brother) References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F6F-3 Hellcat 26100 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List January 1944 - F6F-3 Hellcat 26100 pilot Ens R. W. Boedle [sic Beedle] NARA Aircraft Action Report (AAR) VF-18 USS Bunker Hill No. 18 pages 3-8 (Page 4) "No. 1 / Squadron: VF-18 / Name: Ensign R. W. Beedle / cause: attack by enemy VF [fighter] / condition or status: Killed in Action" American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Robert W. Beedle FindAGrave - Ens Robert Westfield “Bobbie” Beedle (photo, tablets of the missing photo) Golden Boy: The Untold Story of William Holden by Bob Thomas "Ensign Beedle, who had already destroyed two Japanese Zeros, had been part of a carrier-based squadron of Hellcats escorting dive bombers on the raid. The Hellcats were attacked by half a dozen Zeros, and Beedle's plane was apparently hit as he turned to intercept a pair of Japanese planes that concentrated on him. Said his section leader: 'His Hellcat swept upward in a lazy loop, pulled out just above the water, flew level for a few seconds, then plunged into the whitecaps. His guns were still blasting.'" Thanks to Richard Dunn 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 19, 2024 |
 F6F  MIA 1 Missing |
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