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| USN USS Essex (CV-9) VB-9   Time-Life November 1943 |
Pilot Lt(jg) Paul K. Conrath, O-112437 USNR (MIA / KIA) Marietta, OH Gunner AMM2c Norris Hadley Montee, 6281708 USNR (MIA / KIA) Pittsburg, KS Crashed November 18, 1943 at 7:10am Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 3955. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-5 Dauntless bureau number 28608. Wartime History Assigned to USS Essex (CV-9) to Bombing Squadron 9 (VB-9). No known nickname or nose art. Squadron Number 10 was painted in white in large digits on both sides of the tail. During November 1943, this SBD sustained tail damaged including damage to the tail elevator and tail vertical. This damage was photographed by Time-Life with the pilot looking at the wreckage. Mission History On November 18, 1943 one of twelve SBD Dauntless took off from USS Essex (CV-9) piloted by Lt(jg) Paul K. Conrath on a predawn dive bombing mission against enemy fortifications on Tarawa (Betio).The formation was led by Lt. Commander Decker and formed up in a "Z" formation and departed for the target at 6:30am climbing to 11,500'. Approaching the target from the southeast, this SBD made a dive bombing attack from 10,000' starting at 7:10am but failed to recover from its dive and crashed into Tarawa Lagoon north of the eastern end of Tarawa (Betio). All other SBDs returned safely. When this aircraft failed to return the entire crew was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Conrath was officially declared dead on January 11, 1946. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Conrath is memorialized at the courts of the missing at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on court 5. Montee was officially declared dead on January 11, 1946. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Montee is memorialized at the courts of the missing at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on court 1. He also has a memorial marker at Mount Olive Cemetery in Pittsburg, KS. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-5 Dauntless 28608 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List November 1943 - SBD Dauntless 28608 pilot B. K. Conrate [sic] USN Casualty Card - Paul K. Conrath NARA Bombing Squadron 9 - 10 December 1944 - 21 December 1944 "Lieutenant (jg) Paul K. Conrath, A-V(N) USNR of Marietta, Ohio, on 18 November 1943 at Tarawa, Gilbert Islands." NARA Bombing Squadron 9 - Part Two page 21 (November 18, 1943 mission report) ARA Bombing Squadron 9 - Aircraft Action Report November 18, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Paul K. Conrath American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Norris H. Montee FindAGrave - LtJg Paul K Conrath (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Norris Hadley Montee (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - AMM2 Norris Hadley Montee (courts of the missing photo) Thanks to Katherine Rasdorf 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 17, 2022 |
 SBD Photo Archive  MIA 2 Missing |
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