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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-24 VMSB-244 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Hobart Kemp, O-018662 (KIA, BR) IN Gunner Pfc Charles W. Lucas, 463133 3rd Defense Battalion (KIA, BR) Monessen, PA Crashed February 19, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 2280. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-4 Dauntless bureau number 10350. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the United States Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 24 (MAG-24), Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 244 (VMSB-244). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On February 19, 1944 took off from Piva North Airfield (Piva Uncle) on Bougainville piloted by 1st Lt. Hobart Kemp with passenger PFC Charles W. Lucas on an artillery spotting mission. At 10:10am while returning, this SBD entered the traffic circle at an altitude of 500' when accidentally shot down by U.S. Army anti-aircraft fire, caught fire and crashed with both dead. Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of both crew were recovered. Postwar, transported to the Philippines for permanent burial. Memorials Both crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Neither crew member earned the Purple Heart, posthumously as their loss was due to friendly fire. Kemp is buried at Manila American Cemetery plot H row 10 grave 128. He also has a memorial marker at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis, IN in section 38. Lucas is buried at Manila American Cemetery plot H row 11 grave 16. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-4 Dauntless 10350 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List - SBD-4 10350 NARA VMSB-244 War Diary February 1944 page 7 Application For Headstone or Marker - 1st Lt. Hobart Kemp American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Hobart Kemp FindAGrave - 1Lt Hobart Kemp (photo, Manila American Cemetery) FindAGrave - Hobart Carol Kemp (photo, Crown Hill Cemetery) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles William Lucas FindAGrave - PFC Charles William Lucas 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 |
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