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| USN USS Yorktown (CV-5) VB-5 |
Pilot Lt. John James Powers, O-074968 (MIA / KIA) New York, NY Gunner ? (MIA / KIA) MIA May 8, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 830. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-3 Dauntless bureau number 4597. Wartime History Assigned to Bombing Squadron 5 (VB-5) aboard USS Yorktown (CV-5). No known nickname, nose art or markings. Mission History On May 8, 1942 in the morning during the Battle of the Coral Sea launched from USS Yorktown CV-5 piloted by Lt. John James Powers armed with a single 1,000 pound bomb leading the third division on a bombing attack against Shōkaku. Over the target at roughly 10:30am at an altitude of 18,000', the SBDs spotted the carrier escorted by cruisers and destroyers. The formation used cloud cover and reached an attack position by 10:49am southeast of the enemy force and waited for TBD Devastators from Torpedo Squadron 5 (VT-5) for mutual support and to make a coordinated attack. Under attack, Shōkaku was making wild evasive maneuvers at roughly 34 knots to avoid the American aircraft. Her anti-aircraft batteries and Combat Air Patrol (CAP) of six Zeros airborne plus six more launched during the attack attempted to intercept the Americans. At approximately 11:00am Powers made a low dive bombing attack before releasing his bomb that was credited with hitting the starboard side aft of the island and caused fires on both sides of the flight deck. This aircraft was last seen attempting to recover from his dive at roughly 200' and was obscured by anti-aircraft fire, smoke, flames and debris that caused it to crash nearby into the sea. When he failed to return, he was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Later, Powers earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously. Memorials Powers was officially declared dead May 9, 1943. He earned the Medal of Honor, posthumously, Air Medal with Gold Star and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. During February 1944, USS John J. Powers (DE-528) was named in honor of Lt. John J. Powers, christened by his mother. At the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) there is a memorial plaque in the memorial hall. Powers also has a memorial at Woodlawn Cemetery in Bronx, New York. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-3 Dauntless 4597 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List May 1942 - SBD-3 Dauntless 4597 pilot Lt. John J. Powers NARA Office of Naval Intelligence "The Battle of the Coral Sea" page 22 mentions Powers Naval History and Heritage Command "Battle of the Coral Sea" The First Team (1984) mentions Powers and this loss American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John J. Powers FindAGrave - Lt John James Powers (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - John James Powers (photo, memorial marker photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated November 27, 2024 |
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