Pacific Wrecks - SBD-3 Dauntless pilot Lt(jg) Anthony J. Quigley

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

SBD-3 Dauntless Bureau Number ????

USN
USS Lexington CV-2
VS-2

Pilot Lt(jg) Anthony "Tony" J. Quigley (survived)
Gunner P.O. Wheelhouse (survived)
Ditched May 7, 1942

Aircraft History
Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number ??? (three digits). Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-3 Dauntless bureau number ???? (four digits).

Wartime History
Assigned to the USS Lexington (CV-2), Scouting Squadron 2 (VS-2). Squadron Code S-? (one or two digits). No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On May 7, 1942 launched from USS Lexington (CV-2)s piloted by Lt(jg) Anthony J. "Tony" Quigley on a dive bombing mission against Shoho. Damaged during the attack, this SBD ditched into the lagoon off the western end of Rossel Island (Yela). The crew survived the ditching unhurt.

Rescue
Both crew members were assisted by locals took them to the plantation house owned by Mr. Osborne. On May 26, 1942 both were rescued by MV Laurabada.

Lt Mac Rich (Australian Army, ANGAU) Lousiade Archipelago Patrol:
"May 26, 1942 Not a very pleasant night, hard boards and mosquitoes, so we were not sorry to got moving early in the morning. Reached Rambuso at 9.am, and rejoined the “Laurabada”. Left the small launch here to make the crossing to Rossel Island when the weather improved and got under weigh at 9.30am and as soon as we cleared the anchorage ran into a really big sea with a stiff S.E. for our crossing to AVALETTI (Osborne Bros plantation) on Rossell Island. After an uncomfortable trip passed through the passage in the off-shore reef and anchored off the plantation at 2.pm. Noticed a red S.O.S. painted in red on the roof of the plantation managers house as we came through the passage. Received an enthusiastic welcome from Lieutenant Quigley and Sgt. Wheahouse [sic P.O. Wheelhouse, ex- USA aircraft carrier “Lexington”. They informed us that their aircraft had been damaged during the bombing of a Japanese carrier [Shoho] in the Coral Sea battle on the 7th May they had been unable to get back to the “Lexington” and had been forced to make a crash landing in the lagoon at the western end of Rossell Island. The local natives had picked them up and taken them down to Mr. Osbornes plantation where the native staff had cared for them. Made inquiries amongst the local natives as to whether there were any other survivors, friend or foe on the island, with negative results. Remained in the calm anchored overnight, our American friends giving us a full account of the battle as far as they were concerned."

Relatives
John Quigley (nephew) Lt(jg) Anthony J. "Tony" Quigley
"Lt.(jg) Tony Quigley is my uncle (my father's brother). There was some information in this article I did not know before. If anyone can offer advice on how I could research additional information on my uncle or his plane, I would appreciate it. Commander William Bowen Ault was the person that told Tony to head for Rossel Island after his plane was hit. The next day Ault was killed. I forwarded his son’s e-mail to my cousin, Tony’s son. They had an exchange of e-mails."

References
Note, SBD-3 Dauntless 3541 is associated with Quigley but is incorrect. On March 5, 2018 a Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) from R/V Petrel surveyed the wreckage of SBD-3 Dauntless 3541 off the shipwreck of USS Lexington (CV-2) proving the U.S. Navy loss listing for 4531 is in error and in fact this plane was aboard the carrier when it sank May 8, 1942.
Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-3 Dauntless 4531
USN Loss List Summary Sheet - SBD-3 4531 lists pilot as Quigley ditched May 7, 1942 this is in error.
Thanks to John Quigley, Jim Sawruk and John Douglas for additional information

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Last Updated
June 25, 2025

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