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| USN VC-40  Ramsey c1943  Sciara c1943 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Billy Ray Ramsey, 0-014608 USMCR VMSB-236 (MIA / KIA) Eastland, TX Gunner Sgt Charlie J. Sciara, 503505 USMCR VMSB-236 (POW, died February 22, 1944, BNR/MIA) Brooklyn, NY Crashed January 14, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 4610. On September 14, 1943 delivered Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-5 Dauntless Bureau Number 35971. Wartime History By January 1, 1944 one of thirteen SBD Dauntless dive bombers assigned to Composite Squadron 40 (VC-40) at Munda Airfield on New Georgia. Number 71 was painted in white on the fuselage. No known nickname or nose art. On January 14, 1944 this dive bomber was a pool aircraft assigned to Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 236 (VMSB-236) "Black Panthers" pilot 1st Lt. Billy Ray Ramsey with gunner Sgt Charlie J. Sciara. Mission History On January 14, 1944 at 6:15am took off from Munda Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Billy Ray Ramsey with gunner Sgt Charlie J. Sciara armed with a single 1,000 pound bomb and landed at Torokina Airfield on Bougainville to refuel then took off again at 10:30am on a dive bombing mission against Lakunai Airfield near Rabaul. The bomber formation of 38 SBD Dauntless from VMSB-236 and VMSB-341 and VC-40 led by Major McDaniel plus 18 TBF Avengers from VMTB-232 and VC-40. This was the first full scale strike against Rabaul by land based light bombers. A total of 76 fighters escorted including sixteen F4U Corsairs from VMF-215 flying high cover, sixteen F4U Corsairs flying medium cover and sixteen F4Us plus 8 F6F Hellcats from VF-40 flying low cover plus twenty Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) P-40 Kittyhawks from No. 15 Squadron covering the dive bombers and No. 17 Squadron covering the Avengers. Inbound, three fighters aborted leaving 73 escorts. Inbound to the target over New Ireland, approximately 60-70 Zeros intercept and harassed the formation but were kept away by the escorting fighters. The SBD formation approached Rabaul from the north at an altitude of 14,000' and the weather was reported as fair. The primary target Lakunai Airfield was covered by clouds and dive bombers switched to their secondary target, Japanese shipping in Simpson Harbor and Karavia Bay off Rabaul. The formation encountered intense anti-aircraft fire of all calibers and were intercepted by successive waves of fighters including what was claimed to be Zekes, Hamps and Tonys. At 12:45pm the dive bombers began their pushover at 10,000' and released their bombs at 1,500' with pull out at 800'-1,000'. The strike was credited with 9 direct hits on 7 transports and a direct hit on a possible light cruiser and possible destroyer. Also, 20 near misses that likely caused damage. It was estimated that 5 of the 7 transports were sunk. In fact, only two large ships were damaged including Naruto and Matsukaze was lightly damaged. Approaching Rabaul, this SBD was hit by anti-aircraft fire possibly north of Tavui Point. Last seen in a flat spin over Saint Georges Channel (St. Georges Channel). When this aircraft failed to return, this aircraft was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was SBD-5 Dauntless 36230 pilot 1st Lt. Harold R. Tuck (MIA) gunner Pfc Paul F. Mc Cleaf (POW, executed) Search Afterwards, a PBY Catalina unsuccessfully searched for the air crews lost on this mission. Fates of the Crew Pilot 1st Lt. Billy Ray Ramsey died in the crash and he remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Gunner Sgt Charlie J. Sciara managed to bail out and landed near the west coast of New Ireland. He was captured by the Japanese and became a Prisoner Of War (POW) and interrogated on the beach including being tortured and forced to talk using a hot iron pressed into his chest. Afterwards, transported to Rabaul and detained at Tunnel Hill POW Camp. On February 22, 1944 he died due to neglect, malaria or beri-beri and was buried nearby. His remains were never recovered. Sciara remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Postwar, remains recovered from the Australian War Cemetery near Rabaul were turned over to American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) at Finschafen and designated Unknown X-112 (X-File 112) and Unknown X-37 (X-File 37). How and where the remains were recovered was unknown. The U.S. Army deemed these two sets of remains not to be associated with Ramsey or Sciara, rather they continued to be designated as unknowns. Both Ramsey or Sciara remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Ramsey was officially declared dead on January 15, 1945. He was promoted to Captain and earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Sciara was officially declared dead on February 22, 1944. He are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Sciara also has a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery at section H. Although buried near Tunnel Hill POW Camp his grave was never found. Sciara remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage This SBD crashed into a hillside inland from the west central coast of New Ireland and was observed by locals and Japanese on the coast. The crash site was too far inland and never visited by the Japanese or locals. On impact, the engine broke off and the center section came to rest upside down with the tail broken off nearby. During 1982, a villager hunting in the mountains and was the first to locate the crash site. He was aware of the plane from his grandmother who was alive during World War II and saw the plane crash inland. one of the crew parachute out and was captured by the Japanese and interrogated on the beach. Initially afraid of the plane, he only approached to touch the engine then departed. Afterwards, nobody else was able to find the crash site. On January 23, 2024 the crash site was rediscovered by four locals hunting in the mountains. Near the upside down pilot's set, the remains of the pilot were observed partially buried in the soil. They also found the pilot's .45 caliber pistol medical supplies and canteens. On January 31, 2024 same four locals returned to the crash site to take photographs. On June 6, 2024 a team from Pacific Wrecks led by Justin Taylan visited the crash site and observed the squadron number 71 on the fuselage and remains of the pilot. Justin Taylan adds: "The tail is at the crash site and was not shot off or broken off as stated in wartime reports. There is no evidence of fire at the crash site. COMAIRSOLS Strike Command SBD Intelligence 14 January 1944 lists this SBD as plane number 13, but the wreckage has 71 in white on the fuselage." Relative George W. Ramsey (father of 1st Lt. Billy Ray Ramse) John Sciara (brother Sgt Charlie J. Sciara) "My family was told, both were classified as MIA, both died the day of the crash. After the war my parents received a letter from the Marine Corps stating Sgt Charles Sciara did not die on January 14, 1944. He somehow survived the crash and was taken prisoner by the Japanese and died in an unknown prison camp. They say he might have died February 22, 1944 from Malaria and beri-beri. He probably was murdered by the Japanese. My family was very upset after the war and was not sure what to believe. My brother was under age and my Mom had to sign him in. He was 20 when he died. Mom said at least he died the way he wanted. I was only 10 months old and never seen him alive. They and many others gave up their tomorrows for our todays. I believe their plane lies somewhere in Rabaul's Harbor. Mother had a poem she liked: Satisfied I'll never be "First Lady" Nor grace a magazine, I never will be famous. Nor will I be a queen. But I would never change my lot with any that I've seen For you see - I am the mother of a United States Marine!" References Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-5 Dauntless 35971 "35971 shot down at Rabaul Jan 14, 1944." U.S. Navy Loss List Summary Sheet - SBD-5 35971 NARA "Marine Scout Bombing Squadron Two Thirty Six War Diary January 1944" page 3 (Page 3) "14 January [1944]... Lt. Billy R. Ramsey of this squadron had his tail shot off by anti-aircraft fire while the flight was approaching the target area. When last seen Ramsey was in a flat spin over St. George's Channel, N. E. of Rabaul. With Ramsey was his gunner, Sgt. Charles J. Sciara, (503505), both USMCR [sic]. Shortly before Ramsey was shot down Lt. Tuck (VMSB-341) [SBD Dauntless 36230] lost his tail and spun in. At first it was believed that Tuck had been involved in a mid-air collision. However no other plane in the flight was involved in any collision so far as it is possible to determine. It is believed that Tuck may have been hit by one of the belly tanks which the F6Fs dropped through the formation of SBDs. With Tuck was his gunner, Pfc P. E. Mc Cleaf." NARA "Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 341 War Diary January 1944" pages 5 (Page 5) "[14 January 1944] Another plane in the formation was seen to cut his plane's tail off, but the other plane was never identified [this aircraft, due to enemy action]. One other plane did not return from the strike [this aircraft]. A Dumbo made searches in the area with negative results. Lt. Tuck's plane was No. 27, BuNo. 36230 and his gunner was PFC Paul F. McCleaft, USMCR, Ser. No. 486913." COMAIRSOLS Strike Command SBD Intelligence 14 January 1944 pages 11-12 (Page 11) Struck: 14 January 1944 / Personnel [MIA]: Lt. B. R. Ramsey and Sgt C. J. Sciara, VMSB-236 / Observations: One plane shot down by AA north of Tavui Point. (Page 12) Mission Log: 14 January 1944 (Cont'd) Plane No. 13 / Pilot Ramsey / Call No. 21 / Squadron VMSB-236 / Remarks: Shot down by AA, missing" Director of Memorial Division, Office of the Quartermaster General, U.S. Army Lieutenant Waite (MCS), USN "Identification of unknowns" November 9, 1948 pages 1-2 (Page 2) "In connection with the foregoing, this office has received an unofficial report (originating with the former Japanese Naval Commander at Rabaul at the time of capitulation and based on memoranda [sic memorandum] and the memory of the prison guards since the official records were destroyed in the bombings of [Rabaul] February, March and April 1944) indicating that Sgt. SCIARA probably survived the crash of his plane and was interned in one of the Rabaul POW camps where he died of and beri-beri on 24 February 1944 [sic February 22, 1944]. No such report has ever been received in the case case of Lt. Billy R. Ramsey." Oakland Tribune "Five Bay Area Men in Casualty List" February 16, 1944 "Lieut. Billy R. Ramsey, USMC Reserve, son of G. W. Ramsey of 721 McLaughlin Street, Richmond, was listed as missing." American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Billy Ray Ramsey FindAGrave - Capt Billy Ray Ramsey (photo, tablets of the missing photo) Missing Marines - Billy Ray Ramsey (photos, biography) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Charles John Sciara FindAGrave - Sgt Charles John Sciara (photo, memorial marker photo) date of death January 14, 1944 Ancestry - Charles John Sciara (photo) Missing Marines - Charles J. Sciara (photos, biography) Daily Mail - Exclusive Missing WWII US Marines plane found 80 years after vanishing during daring divebombing mission against Japanese forces: Human remains are discovered alongside wreck in Papua New Guinea jungle by Josie Adnitt and Keith Griffith March 2, 2024 New York Post "Wreckage of WWII plane that vanished found in South Pacific after 80 years" March 2, 2024 South Pacific Air War (2024) pages 521-522 (January 14, 1944) Thanks to John Sciara and Kilala Kindau 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 June 10, 2024 |
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