Pacific Wrecks
Pacific Wrecks    
  Missing In Action (MIA) Prisoners Of War (POW) Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)  
Chronology Locations Aircraft Ships Submit Info How You Can Help Donate
 
  PBY-5A Catalina Bureau Number 2487  
USN
FAW-1
VP-91

Pilot  Ensign William H. Howe, USNR VP-91 (KIA, BR) TN
Co-Pilot  Ensign George L. Doll, USNR VP-11 (KIA, BR) MI
Crew AMM1c Orren A. Roberts, VP-11 (KIA, BR) CA
Crew AMM3c Harvey Joseph Hayman VP-11 (KIA, BR) NY
Crew ARM2c Jack Parrish VP-11 (KIA, BR) TN
Crew  AMM2c Billy B. Herrin VP-11 (KIA, BR) Kerens, TX
Crew  AM3c Delbert G. Berchot VP-11 (KIA, BR) WA
Radio  RM3c Charles L. Andrews VP-11 (KIA, BR) Cuyahoga County, OH
Crew  Sea1c William F. Allen VP-11 (KIA, BR)
Crashed  April 5, 1942

Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PBY-5A Catalina bureau number 2487.

Wartime History
Assigned to Fleet Air Wing 1 (FAW-1), Patrol Squadron 91 (VP-91). No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On April 5, 1942 took off piloted by Ensign William H. Howe with a crew from Patrol Squadron 11 (VP-11) on a long range patrol. Returning in bad weather with rain squalls, low overcast and poor visibility while descending crashed at Makapuu Poiint on Oahu. The entire crew was killed on impact. The crew were flying their second flight for the day and had flown a total of 12.3 hours before the crash.

Recovery of Remains
After the crash, the remains of the crew were recovered.

Wreckage
Today, pieces of wreckage remain at the crash site on a cliff near Makapu'u Lighthouse. Some of the wreckage still has blue and gray paint and the front landing gear leg.

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the crash.

Howe is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Nashville, TN.

Doll is buried at Rice Cemetery in Elkhart, IN at section 26.

Roberts is buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery at section O, site 1269.

Hayman is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section C, site 50.

Herrin is buried at Ridge Park Cemetery at section 12.

Berchot is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section A, site 730.

Andrews is buried at Saint Mary Cemetery at block C soldiers circle.

Allen has an unknown burial presumably in his hometown in the United States.

A memorial plaque to the crew is located in Makapu'u State Shore Side Park at the overlook at the summit near the Makapu'u Lighthouse at Waimanalo on Oahu. The plaque commissioned by the Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society reads:

"Not far from here, on April 5, 1942 nine American Naval aviators perished in the service of their country.
Ensign William H. Howe Billy B. Herrin AMM2c
Ensign George L. Doll Delbert G. Berchot AM3c
Orren A. Roberts AMM1c NAP Charles L. Andrews RM3c
Joseph H. Hayman AMM3c William F. Allen SWA1
Jack Parish ARM2c

They crashed their Consolidate 'Catalina PBY-5A serial [bureau number] 2487 seaplane, returning from 12.5 hours of patrolling the water around Hawaii for enemy forces. They crashed trying to land in foul weather and darkness, mistaking the Makapu'u light for Barbers Point light and hit the hillside during a low altitude circling maneuver. You are not forgotten... placed by the Hawaii Museum of Flying."


References
Navy Serial Number Search Results - PBY-5A Catalina 2487
"2487 (VP-11) lost 4/5/42 Oahu, Hawaii. Hit hillside during letdown south of Makapuu. Crew killed."
U.S. Navy Accident Report - PBY-5A Catalina 2487
USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List April 1942 - PBY-5A Catalina 2487
They Stood The Watch... The Story of Patrol Squadron Eleven at NAS Kaneohe Bay by Dave Trojan [PDF]
FindAGrave - Ens William Henry Howe (photo, grave photo)
FindAGrave - Ens George Lakemond Doll (photo, grave photo)
FindAGrave - Orren A Roberts (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Harvey Joseph Hayman (grave photo)
FindAGrave - ARM2c Jack Parrish (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Billy Blythe Herrin (photo, grave photo)
FindAGrave - AM3C Delbert Glenn Berchot (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Charles L. Andrews (news, grave photo)

Contribute Information
Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned?
Do you have photos or additional information to add?

Last Updated
February 15, 2024

Tech Info
PBY
  Discussion Forum Daily Updates Reviews Museums Interviews & Oral Histories  
 
Pacific Wrecks Inc. All rights reserved.
Donate Now Facebook Twitter YouTube Instagram