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| USN VP(HL)-13 |
Pilot Lt. Thomas C. O'Connor (KIA, BR) Crew LCD Russell G. Delany (KIA, BR) Chicago, IL Crew MIDN Walter R. Delaney (KIA, BR) Crew AD1C Charles D. Rudolph (KIA, BR) Crew ADC Trafton R. Lee (KIA, BR) Crew AD2C John A. Beland (KIA, BR) Crew AL2C Carl H. Christensen (KIA, BR) Crew AL3C Charles G. Degarimore (KIA, BR) OK Crew AOC Clarence Pinkerton (KIA, BR) Crew AE3C Paul D. McDonald (KIA, BR) Crew Lt(jg) William L. Wise (KIA, BR) SC Crew Chaero Frederick A. Earle (KIA, BR) Crashed August 12, 1948 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego as Model 32. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PB4Y-2B Privateer bureau number 59776. Wartime History Assigned to squadron VP(HL)-13. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On August 12, 1948 took off from Agana Airfield (NAS Agana) on Guam piloted by Lt. Thomas C. O'Connor on a flight. Due to bad weather, flew into a cliff at the southern end of Rota Island killing the entire crew on impact. Wreckage Afterwards, the crash site was located and the remains of the crew recovered. Part of the wreckage is possibly in the sea off Rota Island. Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of the crew were recovered and transported to the United Statas for burial. Mark Michael / Dive Rota adds: "We found a ring with the initials T.C.O. at the crash site, which we believe may have belonged to the pilot of the aircraft LT. Thomas C. O'Connor. I would like to try and find his wife or children if he had any and if they are still alive and return the ring to them if they would want it." Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Six of the crew: Degarimore, Walter DeLaney, Russel DeLaney, Chaero, Lee, O'Connor and Pinkerton were buried in a group burial at Golden Gate National Cemetery at section F, grave 41. Wise is buried at Agana Cemetery on Guam at row B. Christensen, Rudolph and Beland have unknown burials presumably in their hometowns in private cemeteries in the United States. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - PB4Y-2 Privateer 59776 "59776 (PB4Y-2B, VP-13) flew into cliff at end of Rota Island NAS Agana Aug 12, 1948." Find A Grave - Thomas Charles O'Connor (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Russell Grenier DeLany (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Walter Ross Delaney (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Trafton Raymond Lee (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Charles Gregory Degarimore (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Clarence Pinkerton (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Frederick Alvin Earle (group burial photo) FindAGrave - William Lorraine Wise (grave photo) Thanks to Mark Michael and Ted Darcy 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 March 3, 2021 |
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