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| USN USS Enterprise (CV-6) VT-3  USN 1939  HURL September 24, 1999 |
Pilot Lt. Andrew J. Gardner, 0-082561 (MIA / KIA) Somerset, KY Radio AMM3c Claude W. Hairston, 3601391 (MIA / KIA) Pecos, TX Gunner Sea2c Frank Burns, 5100525 USNR (MIA / KIA) Crashed October 11, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Grumman as model G-40. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as TBF-1 Avenger bureau number 00509. Assigned to the USS Enterprise (CV-6) to Torpedo Squadrons 3 (VT-3). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On October 11, 1942 took off piloted by Lt. Andrew J. Gardner on a training flight. During join up at 1,500' a midair collision happened when TBF Avenger 00590 was apparently thrown out of control by a slipstream and pulled up in front of this plane and the empennage was damaged by the propeller of this plane and went into a steep wing-over and the top of the tail fell off then went out of control and again struck this plane causing the empennage to break off. Out of control, the plane struck TBF Avenger 00509 then crashed into the sea roughly three miles northeast of Makapu‘u Point (Makapu) on the eastern tip of Oahu. All three crew died in the crash and were listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage On September 24, 1999 this Avenger was found by Hawaiʻi Undersea Research Lab (HURL) remotely operated vehicle (ROV) in the Rob's Reef area at a depth of 335' / 102m. The Avenger is upright on the bottom and largely intact with tail missing behind the turret. Nearby is the engine with the propeller missing. Designated HURL Artifact No. AIR-20. Memorials Gardner and Hairston were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Burns was officially declared dead on November 10, 1942. None of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously as the flight was non-combat. Gardner is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 3. Hairston is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 3. Burns is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 5. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - TBF-1 Avenger 00514 "00514 (VT-3) midair with 00509 and 00590 3 mi NE of Makapu Pt, HI 10/11/1942. 3 killed." NARA Torpedo Squadron 3 (VT-3) War History page 4 "October 1942 Mid-air collision claimed six (6) lives." News "Gardners to Reside At Pensacola, Fla." News "Lieut. A. J. Gardner Killed In Action" News "Lost Aviator Trained Here: Lt. Gardner Received Wings at Miami Naval Air Station" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Andrew J. Gardner FindAGrave - LT Andrew Jackson Gardner (photo, courts of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Claude W. Hairston FindAGrave - AMM3 Claude Wilson Hairston (photo, courts of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frank Burns FindAGrave - S2 Frank Burns (courts of the missing photo) Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory Archive - AIR-20: Avenger (BuNo 00514) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated April 19, 2021 |
 Avenger  335' / 102m  Photo Archive  MIA 3 Missing |
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