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| USN USS Yorktown (CV-10) VF-88  USN 1942 |
Pilot Ensign Eugene E. Mandeberg, 0-364034 (MIA / KIA) Detroit, MI MIA August 15, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Grumman as model G-50 in Bethpage, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F6F-5 Hellcat bureau number 77458. Wartime History Assigned to USS Yorktown (CV-10) to Fighting Squadron 88 (VF-88). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On August 15, 1945 in the early morning launched from USS Yorktown (CV-10) piloted by Ensign Eugene E. Mandeberg as one of eleven Hellcats on a strike against the Shibaura Power Plant in Tokyo. As the formation approached the target, Yorktown radioed that Japan had officially surrendered and the strike was ordered to salvo their ordnance and return to the carrier. As the Hellcats were turning, their formation was intercepted by Japanese Navy fighters including A6M5 Zeros and J2M3 Jacks from the 302 Kōkūtai (302 Air Group) based at Atsugi Airfield. During the dogfight, four Hellcats were shot down including this plane. When this aircraft failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was F6F Hellcat 78065 pilot Lt(jg) Joseph G. Sahloff (MIA), F6F Hellcat 79592 pilot Lt(jg) H. Harrison (MIA), and F6F Hellcat 78244 pilot Ensign W. Hobbs (MIA). Recovery of Remains On March 20, 1946, U.S. personnel retrieved a set of remains from the Myoho-ji Temple in Yokohama. These remains were believed to be a pilot from an F6F Hellcat from USS Yorktown that crashed on August 15, 1945 and were buried at Manila American Cemetery as an unknown burial. On November 15, 2019 the unknown burial was exhumed and transported to the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory in Dover, Delaware for analysis using Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) using a combination of mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome DNA, and nuclear SNP testing. On March 4 or 6, 2025, Mandeberg was identified by the Department of Defense (DoD) as accounted-for. Memorials Mandeberg was officially declared dead August 16, 1946. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Mandeberg is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 1 with a rosette added next to his name when he was accounted-for. On September 14, 2025 at 11:00am Mandeberg was buried with full military honors at Beth El Memorial Park Cemetery in Livonia, MI. Research Navy Serial Number Search Results - F6F-5 Hellcat 77458 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List August 1945 - F6F-5 Hellcat 77458 NARA Fighting Squadron 88 War Diary pages 7, 12-13 (Page 7) "15 August 1945 - The last day of the war. The Japs surrendered unconditionally. Before the announcement could reach our strikes, four of our fighters pilot were lost - presumably to enemy fighters. They were jumped by 20 Jacks and Georges [sic A6M5 Zeros]. Lt. (jg) Proctor, Lt.(jg) T. W. Hansen got two. The four pilots lost were Lt. H. M. Harrison, Lt.(jg) J. G. Sahloff, Ensign E. E. Mandeberg, and Ens. W. C. Hobbs Jr." (Page 12) "On August 15th [1945], we lost 4 pilots to enemy fighters. Lt. Harrison, Lt. (jg) Sahloff, Ens. H. Hobbs, and Ens. E. Mandeberg. They were on a sweep over Tokozozawa Airfield [sic Tokorozawa Airfield] when the word was flashed to them by radio that the Japs had surrendered. They were ordered to return to base. Harrison acknowledge for the message and then shortly thereafter his flight of six hellcats were jumped by twenty Franks and Georges [sic A6M5 Zeros and J2M3 Jacks]. VF-88 pilots accounted for nine aircraft. Lt.(jg) Proctor and Ens. T. W. Hansen were the only two to get back alive. Their planes were badly damaged. Proctor shot down [claimed] three planes and Hansen bagged [claimed] two. This was the crowning loss. The end of the war brought little jubilation among the pilots. The news was accepted quietly. Nine of our..." (Page 13) "shipmates were no longer with us. Our combat losses were out of all proportion to those of previous squadrons. Morale among the pilots was at rock bottom after the last four deaths." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Eugene E. Mandeberg FindAGrave - ENS Eugene Esmond “Mandy” Mandeberg (photos, grave Beth El Memorial Park) FindAGrave - ENS Eugene Esmond “Mandy” Mandeberg (photos, courts of the missing photo) DPAA Personnel Profile - Ensign Eugene Esmond Mandeberg lists date of identification as March 4, 2025 DPAA News Release - New DNA Technology Helps Identify Missing WWII Aviator March 21, 2025 lists date of identification as March 6, 2025 Imperial Japanese Navy Aces 1937-45 (1998) by Henry Sakaida page 80 (August 15, 1945) "The last major dogfight of World War 2 occurred on 15 August 1945 when VF-88 Hellcats encountered a mixed formation of Zeros and 'Jacks' of the 302nd AG near Atsugi. In a running dogfight, four Hellcats were lost. Two hours later the Emperor broadcast his surrender announcement..." Hometown Life "One of the last Americans killed in World War II will be laid to rest in Livonia" August 27, 2025 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 2, 2025 |
 F6F  Photo Archive  MIA 1 Missing |
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