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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-11 VMSB-132  USN 1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Walter A. Eck, 0-011172 (MIA / KIA) Milwaukee, WI Gunner Pfc Irvin Peter Korotki, 388705 (MIA / KIA) West Allis, WI MIA January 21, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 1641. Delivered Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-4 Dauntless bureau number 06796. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11), Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 132 (VMSB-132). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On January 21, 1943 took off from Espiritu Santo piloted by 1st Lt. Walter Albert Eck on a training mission to practice dive bombing and failed to pull out of a dive and crashed. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search Afterwards, the crash site was spotted from the air, but search parties failed to access the site during two attempts. Later, reportedly on May 7, 1943 the remains of the crew were recovered, identified and buried at the crash site. On September 10, 1947 a team from 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company (604th QM GR Co) investigated the crash site (AGRS-PAZ Case 1324) but were unable to locate the aircraft or burial due to thick foliage. Memorials Both crew were officially declared dead on January 21, 1943. As the flight was non-combat, neither of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Eck earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 2. Korotki earned the Air Medal. is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 4. On September 4, 1943 a memorial mass was held in his memory at Saints Peter and Paul Polish Catholic Church in South Milwaukee, WI. References U.S. Marine Corps Casualty Report (USMC Casualty Card) - Walter Albert Eck Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Walter Albert Eck U.S. Marine Corps Casualty Report (USMC Casualty Card) - Irvin Peter Korotki Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) Irvin Peter Korotki Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-4 Dauntless 06796 USN Loss List Summary Sheet - SBD-4 Douglas 06796 pilot Lt Walter A. Eckmabres [sic Eck] NARA War Diary of Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132 October 13, 1942 to April 30, 1943 page 19 (Page 19) "On this date, Lt. W. E. Eck and his radio gunner PFC. Irwin P. Korotke [sic Korotki], are missing in the line of duty, as a result of an airplane crash in the jungles of Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides." The Stoughton Courier "Stoughton Girl's Fiance is missing" February 8, 1943 page 1 Milwaukee Journal "Mass for Plane Victim" August 29, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Walter Albert Eck American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Irvin Peter Korotki FindAGrave - Lieut Walter Albert Eck (photo, courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Irvin Peter Korotki (news, courts of the missing photo) Dauntless Marine Joseph Sailer Jr. Dive-bombing Ace (1997) pages 88, 92, 154 (footnote 28), 168 (index Eck) Thanks to Jed Henry 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 November 28, 2024 |
 SBD MIA 2 Missing |
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