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| USN USS Enterprise (CV-6) VT-6   USN March 1942  USN July 10, 2019 |
Pilot ACMM Harold F. Dixon (survived) Muskogee, OK Bombardier AOM2c Anthony "Tony" J. Pastula (survived) Youngstown, OH Radio RM3c Gene Aldrich (survived) Sikeston, MO Ditched January 16, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Douglas. Constructors Number 1817. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as TBD-1 Devastator bureau number 0335. Wartime History Assigned to USS Enterprise (CV-6) to Torpedo Squadron 6 (VT-6). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On January 16, 1942 took off from the USS Enterprise (CV-6) piloted by Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate (ACMM) Harold F. Dixon with Bombardier AOM2c Anthony "Tony" J. Pastula and radio operator RM3c Gene Aldrich on a reconnaissance mission scouting ahead of Task Force 8 (TF-8). After crossing the equator, this Devastator was unable to locate the carrier and runs out of fuel and ditched in the Central Pacific. Fates of the Crew The three crew survived the landing unhurt and deployed their life raft. For the next thirty-four days, the three survived in the open sea and drifted over 750 miles before reaching Pukapuka Island (Puka Puka Island, Danger Island) in the northern Cook Islands. On February 19, 1942 they were found by local Teleuka Iotua in a hut on Loto village and gave them coconuts to drink and got help and later radioed the U.S. Navy to arrange their rescue. Rescue In early March 1942 the crew were rescued by USS Swan (AVP-7) then back to Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, the crew were photographed in uniform with the life raft. On March 24, 1942 during an award ceremony, Admiral Chester Nimitz bestowed Dixon with the Navy Cross for "extreme heroism, exceptional determination, resourcefulness, skilled seamanship, excellent judgment and highest quality of leadership". Pastula and Aldrich received presidential commendations and were cited for "extraordinary courage, fortitude, strength of character and exceptional endurance". The ceremony was photographed by Ralph Morse LIFE Magazine. Display Their life raft was recovered with the crew on Pukapuka Island and taken with them to Pearl Harbor. Afterwards, the crew were photographed with the life raft in Hawaii. Next, the life raft was shipped to the United States Naval Academy Museum (USNA Museum) arriving in May 1942 for preservation as a historical artifact with a plaque and exhibit about the crew. Immediately, the life raft was loaned to Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company for repairs and conservation. Next, put on display at the Chrysler Building in New York and to help sell war bonds with the sign "This Goodyear Boat Has Been To War! Saved The Lives of three brave Navy Flyers who arrived save and ready to fight again after 34 days at sea." Afterwards, returned to the United States Naval Academy Museum (USNA Museum) were it remained on display for the remainder of World War II with a plaque and exhibit about the crew. During 1974, Pastula visited the museum to see the life raft exhibit. Today, the life raft is on loan to the National Museum of Naval Aviation (NMNA) where it is displayed with a cut out of the crew in the exhibit "Raft: A story of survival at sea". Memorials Dixon died on June 26, 1987. He is buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at plot S, grave 188. Pastula died on October 19, 1982. His burial details are unknown but presumed to be in a private cemetery in Ohio. Aldrich died of cancer on March 27, 1973 in San Diego. His burial details are unknown but presumed to be in a private cemetery in California. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - TBD-1 Devastator 0335 "0335 (VT-6) missing 1/16/1942 off USS Enterprise. Crew found 34 days later." USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List January 1942 - TBD-1 0335 The Daily Oklahoman "Honors For A Hero" by Associated Press (AP) March 25, 1942 page 1 [Dixon Navy Cross] The Daily Oklahoman "Flier' Liferaft Goes To Museum" by Associated Press (AP) March 25, 1942 page 13 Hall of Valor Project - Harold Frederick Dixon, Navy Cross Citation "Chief Machinist's Mate Harold Frederick Dixon, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Torpedo Plane in Torpedo Squadron SIX (VT-6), attached to the U.S.S. ENTERPRISE (CV-6), after a forced landing at sea while in operations against the enemy in the South Pacific on 16 January 1942. Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate Dixon's plane sank immediately, forcing him and his crew to take to an aviation emergency rubber boat. By his resourcefulness and excellent judgment, and demonstrating exceptional determination and skillful seamanship, he succeeded in navigating the rubber boat for 34 days over approximately 500 miles, without adequate provisions or equipment, and landing safely on a remote Pacific Island, thereby saving the lives of his crew and exhibiting the highest quality of leadership. The conduct of Aviation Chief Machinist's Mate Dixon throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service." The Raft (1942) by Robert Trumbull with Harold F. Dixon tells the story of the crew's ordeal The First Team (1984) page 72 Air & Space Magazine "Stranded at Sea" by Alvin Townley April 25, 2011 Craig Press "Moffat County man recalls World War II Pacific survivors" December 6, 2017 interviews Tony Aldrich FindAGrave - Harold Frederick Dixon (photo, obituary, news articles) FindAGrave - Anthony J. "Tony" Pastula (news articles) FindAGrave - Gene Aldrich (obituary, news articles) Oxnard Press Courier "Gene Aldrich Obituary" March 29, 1973 New York Times "Gene Aldrich Dies; Navy Raft Survivor" March 30, 1973 Southeast Missourian "Sikeston man's World War II life-raft ordeal told in a new film" February 6, 2015 Against The Sun (2014) independent film about the crew Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated February 3, 2023 |
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