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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-12 VMSB-143  USMC 1942  USMC 1942 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Ellis E. Matheson, 013680 (MIA / KIA) Big Sandy, MT / Fairmount, ND Radio Sgt Harold Gwen Gay, 315728 (MIA / KIA) Delta, CO Gunner Private Louis Arthur Lahr, 374357 (MIA / KIA) Cut Bank, MT MIA March 21, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Grumman as Model G-40. Constructors Number 4024. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as TBF-1 Avenger bureau number 06091. Sent overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 12 (MAG-12), Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 143 (VMSB-143) "Rocket Raiders". No known nickname, nose art or markings. Mission History On March 21, 1943 took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal piloted by 1st Lt. Ellis E. Matheson on a bombing mission against Kahili Airfield (Buin) on southern Bougainville. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The three crew were officially declared dead on March 22, 1945. All three are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Matheson earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for "extraordinary achievement as a pilot of a torpedo bomber in the Solomon Islands area, in spite of heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire and night fighter opposition, and with utter disregard for his own safety, Lt. Matheson skillfully maneuvered his bomber over the objective" and Purple Heart, posthumously. He was also promoted to the rank of Captain, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at IOOF Cemetery in Lebanon, OR. Gay earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Delta Cemetery in Delta, CO at block 3, lot 104. Lahr earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Crown Hill Cemetery in Cut Bank, MT. References Note, some sources list Matheson's rank as 2nd Lieutenant on the day of the mission, in fact he was 1st Lieutenant and promoted to the rank of Captain posthumously. Navy Serial Number Search Results - TBF-1 Avenger 06091 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List - March 1943 - TBF-1 Avenger 06091 NARA Marine Air Group 12 (MAG-12) War Diary March 1943 page 5 (Page 5) "March 21, 1943 - 2nd Lt Ellis E. Matheson, Sgt Harold G. Gay; PFC Louis A. Laher; all missing in action from 'BEVY' [Guadalcanal]." USMC Casualty Report - Ellis Ellsworth Matheson, 013680 USMC Casualty Report - Harold Gwen Gay, 315728 USMC Casualty Report - Louis Arthur Lahr, 374357 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Ellis E. Matheson FindAGrave - Capt Ellis Ellsworth Matheson (photo, obituary, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - CPT Ellis Ellsworth Matheson (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold Gwen Gay FindAGrave - Sgt Harold Gwen Gay (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Harold Gwen Gay (memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Louis Arthur Lahr FindAGrave - PFC Louis Arthur Lahr (photo, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - PFC Louis Arthur Lahr (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 May 10, 2025 |
 Avenger  MIA 3 Missing |
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