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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-11 VMSB-132 |
Pilot MGUN Kenneth L. Gordon, 15669 (KIA, BR) IN Gunner Sgt Falton (rescued) Crashed June 2, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 1867. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-3 Dauntless bureau number 06962. 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 or nose art. Mission History On June 2, 1943 took off from Bomber 1 Airfield (Palikulo Field, Fighter 1) piloted by MGUN Kenneth L. Gordon on Espiritu Santo as one of twenty SBDs on a search mission for SBD 10338 piloted by Dieffenbach that ditched. This aircraft was leading SBD 10697 piloted by Hicks on a sector search for the missing aircraft. Neither heard the message to return to base when the aircraft was found. Both searched until their fuel became low, then returned to Espiritu Santo. Blown off course by a tropical storm, the pair attempted to determine their location and radioing their position to base. They were approximately 35 miles northwest of Fighter 1 on Espiritu Santo flying on a heading of 135 degrees near Piapouria. This aircraft began to circle to the right to loose altitude while SBD 10697 piloted by Hicks made a circle to the left. Over land, this SBD crashed into a hill. Pilot Gordon was killed in the crash and gunner Falton survived and managed to crawl down the hill and was eventually rescued. Memorials Gordon was officially declared dead on June 3, 1944. He was promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer (WO), posthumously. Postwar he was buried at buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at Plot R Row 0 Grave 369. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-4 Dauntless 06962 "06962 (VMSB-132) crashlanded Jun 12, 1943" [sic] FindAGrave - Kenneth Lloyd Gordon (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 April 19, 2021 |
 SBD 15 S 166.45 E |
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