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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-11 VMSB-132  USMC 1941 |
Pilot Major Joseph Sailer, Jr., O-4675 C.O. VMSB-132 (MIA / KIA) PA Gunner Pfc James W. Alexander, 349634 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA Crashed December 7, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 1504. Delivered Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-3 Dauntless bureau number 06689. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to 1st Marine Air Wing (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11), Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132 (VMSB-132) "Crying Red Asses". No known nickname, nose art or squadron number. Mission History On December 7, 1942 at 5:20pm took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal piloted by Major Joseph Sailer, Jr. with gunner Pfc James W. Alexander leading a flight of six SBDs on a dive bombing mission against Japanese destroyers off New Georgia escorted by F4F Wildcats. Sailer's usual radio operator and rear gunner, Howard Stanley, was not flying with him on this mission. After 6:30pm spotted a group of eleven destroyers in columns of six and five and returned anti-aircraft fire. The Wildcats remained at 11,000' as the SBDs made their dive bombing attacks. Sailer scored a near miss on one destroyer. After pulling out of his dive, he announced over the radio that his dive breaks would not retract and would attempt to ditch off southern New Georgia. Meanwhile, a F1M2 Pete dove down from above and opened fire from the rear causing his SBD to roll over and crashed into the sea and sank immediately. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Sailer was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He earned the Navy Cross and Purple Heart, posthumously. Sailer is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Woodlands Cemetery in Philadelphia, PA. Alexander was officially declared dead December 8, 1943. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Alexander is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-3 Dauntless 06689 U.S. Navy Loss List Summary Sheet - SBD-3 Dauntless 06689 squadron VMSB-142 [sic VMSB-132] NARA "Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132 War Diary October 13, 1942 - April 30, 1943" - Page 14-15 Hall of Valor - Joseph Sailer , Jr. (Navy Cross citation) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph Sailer, Jr. FindAGrave - Maj Joseph Sailer Jr. (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - MAJ Joseph Sailer Jr. (photo, memorial marker photo) Missing Marines - Joseph Sailer, Jr. (photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James W. Alexander FindAGrave - PFC James Woodward Alexander (obituary, tablets of the missing photo) Missing Marines - James W. Alexander Dauntless Marine Joseph Sailer Jr. Dive-bombing Ace (1997) biography of Sailer, loss pages 104-107 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated April 19, 2021 |
 SBD  MIA 2 Missing |
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