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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USN VC-40 |
Pilot Lt(jg) Roland D. Hahn, O-121709 (MIA / KIA) WI Gunner AMM2c William M. Ellis Jr., 2240025 (MIA / KIA) Metuchen, NJ Radio ARM2c Richard T. Dunn, 6142032 USMCR (MIA / KIA) OH Observer AMM1c Charles E. Wells, 3423028 (MIA / KIA) MO Crashed September 16, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Grumman in Bethpage, New York as a model G-40. Constructors Number 4500. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as TBF-1 Avenger bureau number 23909. Wartime History Assigned to Composite Squadron 40 (VC-40). No known nickname, nose art or markings. Mission History On September 16, 1943 took off from Fighter One on Guadalcanal at 12:32pm piloted by Lt(jg) Rowland D. Hahn on a bombing mission over Ballale Island. Also aboard was observer AMM1C Charles E. Wells. The weather was reported as good. The formation of twenty-four Avengers included twelve Avengers from Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 233 (VMTB-233), six Avengers from Composite Squadron 30 (VC-30) and six Avengers from Composite Squadron 40 (VC-40). Each Avenger was armed with either four 500 pound bombs with an instantaneous fuse or a single 2,000 pound bomb with an instantaneous fuse. Over the target at 2,000' this aircraft released its bomb which exploded prematurely under the plane, blowing off one of the wings. The Avenger was observed to crash into the sea off the southeastern of Ballale Island. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was TBF 06452 (MIA). Dr. J. Donald Zollinhofer, ADRC adds: "I am Mark Zollinhofer, eldest son of Don/Chief/Zolly, whose records contain this information. His wife, my mother, is Ruth Anne Lowe Zollinhofer. My father, Joseph Donald Zollinhofer, was a turret gunner of TBFs in VC-40, based in September 1943 on Guadalcanal out of Henderson Field (Cactus). His flight with Pilot Lecklider and Radioman Art DeMott were the lead plane of that flight. My dad saw 23909 drop into a bombing run and then the plane was hit, lost a wing, rolled over, and exploded, hitting the water about 1/4 mile off the island of Ballale. The men were declared MIA. My dad wrote letters to Melvin Ellis' family and girl friend, and 3 1/2 years later married her after exchanging many, many letters, which I'm reading now. I'm going through my dad's papers and uncovered a note in his handwriting (he died 2010/9/1 at 95 yrs) indicating the personnel on that flight. They were listed as: Hahn, pilot, M. Ellis, gunner (Dad's good friend - on their second sortie) full name William Melvin Ellis, Jr. of Metuchen, NJ, Wells, observer and R. T. Dunn, radioman." Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on September 17, 1944. Each of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - TBF-1 Avenger 23909 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List September 1943 - TBF Avenger 23909 NARA TBF Operations Guadalcanal Intelligence Report - September 16, 1943 pages 105-107 (Page 105-106) "September 16, 1943 Strike Ballale... One TBF was flying at a low altitude across the island [Ballale] when an explosion, apparently from two bombs which it had just dropped, blew off its right wing, flipped it over on its back and sent it crashing into the water at which time it burst into flames. The pilot was Lt. (jg) Rowland [sic] D. Hahn, AV(N), USMCR. The crew consisted of W. M. Ellis, AMM2/c, turret gunner, R. T. Dunn, ARM2/c, radioman and C. E. Wells, AMM1/c who was riding as a passenger. This plane, pilot and crew were attacked to VC-40." (Page 107) "VC-40 - 23909 pilot Hahn, radioman Dunn, turret Ellis, take off 1232, land ---" USN loss list notes the pilot's first name as "Rowland" incorrectly Donald Zollinhofer logbook, September 16, 1943 American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Roland D. Hahn American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - William M. Ellis Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Richard T. Dunn American Battle Monuments Commission (AMBC) - Charles E. Wells FindAGrave - LtJG Roland D Hahn (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - AMM2 William M Ellis (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - ARM2 Richard T Dunn (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AMM1 Charles E Wells (tablets of the missing) Navy Serial Number Search Results TBF-1 Avenger 23909 Thanks to J. Donald Zollinhofer, ADRC 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 4 Missing |
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