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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USN USS Enterprise (CV-6) VT-3 |
Pilot Mach. Harry L. Corl, O-146618 (MIA / KIA) Lambertville, MI Radio RM3c Delmar D. Wiley, 3166611 (WIA, survived) NB Gunner AOM2 Thomas R. Townsend, 2387067 (MIA / KIA) Onondaga County, NY Crashed August 24, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Grumman as model G-40. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as TBF-1 Avenger bureau number 00418. Wartime History Assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6) to Torpedo Squadrons 3 (VT-3). Side number T-13. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On August 24, 1942 during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons took off from USS Enterprise (CV-6) piloted by Mach. Harry L. Corl on a mission and failed to return. Afterwards, listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Fate of the Crew In fact, Wiley was wounded but survived and managed to deploy his life raft. The other two Corl and Townsend were lost and remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Alone, Wiley drifted at sea for fifteen days before making landfall on a small island off Buka Island. With the help of locals, he lived on the island for months. On February 25, 1942 the nine crew of B-17F "My Lovin' Dove" 41-24450 that ditched sixteen days earler and had floated at sea landed in the same area and linked up with Wiley. In an attempt to move closer to the Allied lines, the group attempted to buy a canoe from locals, but it failed to be seaworthy with only four loaded aboard. Later, they hired another native and his canoe to sailed down the coast for four days and met another group of natives, who had been sent by a pair of coastwatchers to find them. Escorted over a jungle trail to the coastwatcher's mountain observation post, they met coastwatchers and arranged their rescue by radio. Rescue On April 10, 1943 sixty days after their ditching, the group of survivors was rescued by a U.S. Navy (USN) PBY Catalina piloted by Robert B. Hays from Patrol Squadron 44 (VP-44) escorted by two PB4Y-1 Liberators from Bombing Squadron 101 (VB-101). During the flight, Hays spotted a group in an outrigger and landed at Boe Boe Harbor to rescue as many as as able. On April 13, 1943 the same Catalina returned to rest of the remaining crew. Memorials Corl and Townsend were officially declared dead August 25, 1942. Both are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Corl earned the Navy Cross for his actions June 4, 1942 and Purple Heart, posthumously. Townsend earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Wiley passed away on December 4, 2013 at age 91. He is buried at Riverside National Cemetery at section 53A site 1192. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - TBF-1 Avenger 00418 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List August 1942 - TBF-1 Avenger 00418 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harry L. Corl American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Thomas R. Townsend FindAGrave - Ens Harry Lee Corl (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AOM2 Thomas Robert Townsend (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - PO Delmar Dean Wiley (photo, grave photos) Wiley's Island (1986) by Delmar D. Wiley tells his story about escape and survival Fate of the Crew of B-17F "My Lovin' Dove" 41-24450 Thank to Jim Sawruk 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 May 10, 2025 |
 Avenger  MIA 2 Missing |
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