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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USN USS Randolph CV-15 VF-16 |
Pilot Lt. Commander James H. McPherson, O-100312 USN (MIA / KIA) CA MIA August 13, 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 77830. Wartime History Assigned USS Randolph (CV-15), Carrier Air Group 16 (CAG-16), Fighting Squadron 16 (VF-16). No known nickname or nose art. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On August 13, 1945 at 7:15am took off from USS Randolph (CV-15) piloted by Lt. Commander James H. McPherson on a mission to conduct a dive bombing attack against Mobara Airfield and Tateyama Airfield in the Tokyo area. This Hellcat was one of fifteen Hellcats participating in the mission, each armed with a 500 pound bomb plus four 5" High Velocity Aircraft Rocket (HVAR). The weather was hazy with7/10 cloud coverage between 3,000' to 4,000'. When this aircraft failed to rendezvous, it was believed lost due to anti-aircraft fire. The last two pilots in the formation Lt. W. J. Ruefle and Lt(jg) W. J. Watson. Jr. believed they saw a plane crash into Tokyo Bay off the southern end of Tateyama Airfield as they pulled out of their dives and reported an large oil slick with a fire at the center. When this aircraft failed to return, McPherson was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Search Afterwards, a search was conducted for this aircraft with nil results. Memorials McPherson was officially declared dead on August 14, 1946. He earned the Silver Star, Air Medal with 2 Gold Stars, Purple Heart (posthumously). He is memorialized at the Honolulu Memorial at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl). McPherson also has a memorial marker at his parents grave at Skyview Memorial Lawn in Vallejo, CA. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F6F-5 Hellcat 77830 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List August 1945 - F6F-5 Hellcat 77830 - loss location listed as "Shikoku" incorrectly NARA "COMAIRGR 16 - ACA Reps Nos 1-70-Air opers against Japan, 7/10/45-8/15/45" page 356-357 (Page 357) "F6F-5 / VF-16 / Presumed AA / Not known / Missing, believed crashed. Bureau #77830. VF-16 / Lieut. James H. McPherson, USN / AA / Missing in action. (Page 359) "After the attack Lieut. James H. McPherson, USN. failed to rendezvous. Lieut. W. J. Ruefle and Lt(jg) W. J. Watson. Jr., in the last team to attack, believe they saw a plane crash in the water off the south end of the [Tateyama] airfield and as they pulled out of their dives saw a large oil slick with a fire in the center. A search was made of the area which was negative." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James H. McPherson FindAGrave - LtCdr James H McPherson (photo) FindAGrave - LCDR James Hauhuth McPherson (photo, memorial marker) 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  MIA 1 Missing |
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