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| USN USS Yorktown (CV-10) VB-1 |
Pilot Ensign Owen
M. Hintz, O-290489, USNR (MIA / KIA) IA Gunner AR2C Lloyd R. Woellhof, 6286511 USNR (POW, executed August 6, 1944) KS Crashed July 4, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Curtiss. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SB2C-1 Helldiver bureau number 01169. Wartime History Assigned to USS Yorktown(CV-10) to Bombing Squadron 1 (VB-1). No known nose art, nickname or squadron code. Mission History On July 4, 1944 took off from USS Yorktown CV-10 piloted by Ensign Owen M. Hintz with gunner AR2C Lloyd R. Woellhof roughly sixty-six miles off Chi Chi Jima on a dive bombing mission against Chi Chi Jima Harbor. Over the target, this Helldiver was hit by anti-aircraft fire. Gunner Woellhof managed to bail out and landed safely. Pilot Hintz went down with the aircraft. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Fates of the Crew Pilot Hintz died in the crash and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Woellhof was captured by the Japanese and became a prisoner of war (POW) on Chi Chi Jima until General Yoshio Tachibana ordered him to be killed. On August 6, 1944 Woellhof was taken to a rifle range and tied to a tree. Under orders from Lt. Col. Kikuji Ito, Japanese Army soldiers used him for bayonet practice while he was still alive. Afterwards, Ito personally beheaded Woellhof and his body was buried. On August 16, 1945 the Japanese exhumed Woellhof's body, cremated his remains and disposed of the ashes to remove the evidence of his demise. Memorials Hintz was officially declared dead on February 4, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously (unclear if awarded). Hintz is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 3. He also has a memorial marker at Woodlawn Cemetery in Oelwein, IA at block 5, lot 079. Woellhof was officially declared dead on August 5, 1944 [sic]. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Woellhof is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 2. He also has a memorial marker at Greenwood Cemetery in Clay Center, KA at the cenotaph. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - SB2C-1C Helldiver 01169 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Owen M. Hintz American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lloyd R. Woellhof FindAGrave - Owen Marsten Hintz (memorial marker) FindAGrave - Lloyd Richard Woellhof (photo) FindAGrave - SMN Lloyd Richard "Dick" Woellhof (photo, courts of the missing) FindAGrave - Lloyd Richard "Dick" Woellhof (memorial marker, photo) Flyboys (2004) by James Bradley tells the story of this aircrew Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 13, 2024 |
 SB2C  MIA / POW 1 Missing 1 Prisoner |
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