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| USMC MAW 1 MAG-21 VMSB-236 "Black Panthers" |
Pilot 1st Lt. Richard C. Oughton (survived) Gunner SSgt Willis Plato Rollins, 385716 USMCR (MIA / KIA) Melrose, MA Crashed December 16, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 4607. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-5 Dauntless Bureau Number 35971. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), MAG 21 (MAG-21), Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 236 (VMSB-236). No known nickname, nose art or markings. Wartime History On December 16, 1943 took off from Munda Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. R. C. Oughton with gunner SSgt Willis Plato Rollins on a strike against Sohano Island and Bonis Airfield on Bougainville. Returning from the mission, the formation was flying at roughly 1,500' when SBD-5 Dauntless pilot Monfort suffered an engine failure and accidentally crashed into this plane, impacting the right wing approximately 6 miles off the coast of Bougainville between the mouth of the Tosani River and Sarime River. Both planes went into violent spins and crashed into the sea. Both pilots managed to bail out, both gunners did not. Also lost was SBD-5 Dauntless pilot Lt. Quinlan ditched near Torokina with both crew rescued by a motor launch. Fate of the Crew Gunner SSgt W. P. Rollins was unable to bail out and died in the collision or crash. Pilot Oughton managed to bail out. Later, he was rescued by PBY Catalina "Dumbo" from Torokina and returned to duty. Memorials Gunner SSgt W. P. Rollins, USMCR was officially declared dead December 17, 1944. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Mateja is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Oughton passed away March 14, 2003 at age 83. He is buried at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Dwight, IL. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-5 Dauntless 35968 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List December 1943 - SBD-5 Dauntless 35968 Lt(jg) [sic 1st Lt] R. Oughton saved USN / USMC Loss microfilm - December 1943 SBD-5 Dauntless 35968 listed as "expended" (loss code = 12E) NARA VMSB-236 War Diary December 1943 page 2 (Page 2) "16 December [1943] Sixteen cres of the forward flight echelon participate in a strike on enemy installations on Sohana Island [Sohano] and Bonis Strip [Bonis Airfield], Bougainville. Copy of mission report attached. After the strike was completed and while the planes were returning to base two aircraft, one piloted by First Lieutenant R. C. Oughton, USMCR, of VMSB-236, and the other piloted by First Lieutenant W. A. Monfort of VMSB-245 (USMCR), were involved in a mid-air collision at about 1500 feet at a point approximately 6 miles off the Bougainville shore between Tosani and Sarime Rivers. The cause of the accident was due to the failure of Monfort's engine while flying above Lt. Oughton's... (Page 3) "...section. His plane fell int[o] Lt. Oughton's striking the latter's plane near the right auxillary wing tank." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Willis Plato Rollins FindAGrave - SSGT Willis Plato Rollins (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Richard Corbett Oughton (obituary, 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 January 25, 2024 |
 SBD  MIA 1 Missing |
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