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| USMC MAW-2 MAG-12 VMF-321 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Lelen Taylor Wardle, O-017018 (MIA / KIA) Ogden, UT MIA January 22, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Goodyear Aircraft Corporation in Akron, Ohio. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as FG-1A Corsair bureau number 13270. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the United States Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Air Wing 2 (MAW-2), Marine Air Group 12 (MAG-12), Marine Fighting Squadron 321 (VMF-321) "Hell’s Angels". No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On January 22, 1944 took off at 12:45pm from Piva South Airfield (Piva Yoke) on Bougainville piloted by 1st Lt. Lelen Taylor Wardle as one of sixteen Corsairs on a mission to escort B-25 Mitchells over Rabaul. Other aircraft escorting included other Corsairs, P-38 Lightnings, P-40 Warhawks and F6F Hellcats. Weather was scattered cumulus clouds at 8,000' and unlimited visibility. The ten Corsairs including four from VMF-321 including Lt. Keim, Lt. Fughe, Lt. Wardle and Lt. Amburgery flew ahead of the bombers, circling Rabaul at 24,000'. Over the target, anti-aircraft fire was heavy and accurate at 10-11,000'. After observing the bombers drop their bombs on Lakunai Airfield, the formation was engaged by enemy fighters, fired several burst without result. Departing via St. George's Channel, enemy fighters dropped several phosphorous bombs on the formation from above then departed without firing their guns. A Corsair was seen going down in flames and the pilot parachuting into the sea at 120° eight miles off Cape St. George and 2 Baker-30 (PBY Catalina "Dumbo") was contacted. This Corsair and failed to return, the cause of loss was unknown and was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was FG Corsair 14212 piloted by Smith. Memorials Wardle was officially declared dead January 23, 1946. He was posthumously promoted to Captain and earned the Air Medal with Gold Star and Purple Heart. He is memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery. References Other sources incorrectly list the take off location as Torokina Airfield Navy Serial Number Search Results - FG-1A Corsair 13270 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List January 1944 - FG-1A Corsair 13270 NARA "Marine Fighter Squadron Three Twenty-One War Diary January 1944" pages 29-30 (Page 30) "Lts. Wardle and Lt. Smith failed to return from mission." NARA "VMF-321 Aircraft Action Report - January 22, 1944" pages 1-3 (Page 2) "1st Lt. L. T. Wardle, cause: unknown, condition or status: missing" (Page 3) "Lts. Wardle and Lt. Smith failed to return from mission." The Ogden Standard-Examiner "Parents Peceive Citation Gained by Missing Son" August 20, 1944 page 9A American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lelen Taylor Wardle FindAGrave - CPT Lelen Taylor Wardle (news, tablets of the missing) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated September 24, 2024 |
 FG  MIA 1 Missing |
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