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| USMC 2nd MAW MAG-22 VMSB-241  USMC c1941 |
Pilot Major Lofton R. Henderson, O-4084 C. O. VMSB-241 (MIA / KIA) Lorain, OH Gunner Pfc Lee W. Reininger, 277556 (MIA / KIA) CO MIA June 4, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Douglas at El Segundo. Constructors Number 652. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-2 Dauntless bureau number 2129. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Air Group 22 (MAG-22), Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron 241 (VMSB-241). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On June 4, 1942 during the Battle of Midway took off from Midway Airfield piloted by Major Lofton R. Henderson as part of a strike by U.S. Marine Corps aircraft from VMSB-241 against the Japanese fleet. The formation included a total of 27 Marine aircraft including sixteen SBD-2 Dauntless dive bombers led by Henderson plus eleven SB2U-3 Vindicators led by Major Benjamin W. Norris. Col. Ira L. Kimes, commanding officer of MAG-22 ordered the squadron to "Attack enemy carriers bearing 320° distance 180 miles course 135° speed 20 knots." The Flying faster than the Vindicators, the Dauntless formation climbed to 9,000' and sighted the Japanese fleet at 7:55am including at least two carriers. Henderson's formation circled to 8,500' in preparation for initiating a glide bombing attack from 4,000'. After descending to roughly 8,000', the formation was intercepted by Japanese A6M2 Zeros. As lead aircraft, Henderson's SBD was one of the first targeted by Zeros and hit by gunfire causing his left wing burst into flames from anti-aircraft fire, but he continued his attack until his plane crashed. When this aircraft failed to return both crew members were officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). After Henderson was shot down, Captain Glidden took command of the rest of the formation and attacked despite heavy anti-aircraft fire and Zeros. Although the Marines claimed one of the carriers was burning and smoking heavily, they claimed three direct hits and two near misses. From the Japanese side, three SBDs from VMSB-241 likely scored near misses against Kaga at 8:30 and four near misses against Hiryū at 8:50am. Possibly, one of the SBDs (misidentified as a fighter by the Japanese) strafed Hiryū and killed four crew. Nagumo erroneously noted that Akagi and Soryu sustained bomb hits but this seems to have been reported in error as the damage caused to both carriers were likely caused by U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless dive bombers later in the morning. In total, eight planes from VMSB-241 were lost, this aircraft plus SBD 2148 (pilot survived, gunner MIA). Memorials Both crew members were officially declared dead on June 5, 1943. Both remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Both are memorialized at Honolulu Cemetery (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 4. Henderson earned Purple Heart and Navy Cross posthumously. Three airfields were named "Henderson Field" in honor of Henderson: (1) Lunga Point Airfield (Henderson Field, Bomber 1) on Guadalcanal, (2) Midway Airfield (Eastern Island Airfield, NAS Midway Islands) in Midway Atoll and (3) Sand Island Airfield (Henderson Field) both in Midway Atoll. Gearing-class destroyer USS Henderson (DD-785) launched May 28, 1945 was named in his honor. Also, in his hometown of Lorain, Ohio the 21st Street Bridge was renamed "Lofton Henderson Memorial Bridge". Reininger earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumosly. References Naval Academy Yearbook "The Lucky Bag" class of 1926 (photos of Henderson) Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-2 Dauntless 2129 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List SBD-2 Dauntless 2129 NARA War Diary Marine Scout-Bombing Squadron Two Forty-One, Marine Aircraft Group Twenty-Two, Second Marine Aircraft Wing, FMF., June 1, 1932 to June 30, 1942 (Page 4) "4. At about 0755 the enemy task force was sighted and preparations were made to attack. It was the intention of Major Henderson to make a gild-bombing attack from about 4,000 feet; the approach was started to get into position. At the first part of the let-down circle the squadron was attacked by several enemy fighter planes. Violent anti-aircraft fire was started by the enemy at this time. Fighter were observed taking off from the carrier deck." (Page 6) "Missing in action were: - 1. Major Lofton R. Henderson and his gunner Pfc. Lee W. Reininger, who were shot down in flames during approach to dive on target." Marine Corps Chevron, Volume 2, Number 51, 25 December 1943 "Betio Airfield Named For Hero Of Bloody Fight" "Henderson Field on Guadalcanal was named for Maj. Lofton R. Henderson, commanding officer of a dive bomber squadron." History of Marine Corps Aviation in World War II (1952) pages 54, 56, 58-60 (June 4, 1942), 73, 77 (footnote 7), 81, 433, 465 (VMSB-241) 485 (index) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lofton R. Henderson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Lee Walter Reininger FindAGrave - Maj Lofton Russell "Joe" Henderson (photos, courts of the missing) FindAGrave - PFC Lee Walter Reininger (courts of the missing photos) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated January 15, 2024 |
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