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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USN USS Enterprise VT-20  USN 1944 |
Pilot Lt. Jay R. Manown Jr., O-085973 (MIA / KIA) Kingwood, WV Gunner ARM1c Wilbur A. Mitts, 3763852 (MIA / KIA) Seligman, MO Radio AOM1c Anthony Di Petta, 2236117 (MIA / KIA, BR) Colle d'Anchise, Italy Crashed September 10, 1944 Aircraft History Built by General Motors, Eastern Aircraft Division. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as TBM-1C Avenger bureau number 16956. Wartime History Assigned to Torpedo Squadron 20 (VT-20) aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6). No known nickname, nose art or squadron number. Mission History On September 10, 1944 took off from USS Enterprise (CV-6) piloted by Lt. Jay R. Manown Jr. on a bombing mission against Malakal Island (Ngemelachel) in Palau. Over the target, hit by anti-aircraft fire and last seen in a violent spin before crashing into the sea off Malakal. When this plane failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage This Avenger crashed roughly 200 meters off Malakal Island (Ngemelachel) in Palau. Recovery of Remains Between 2003–2018, BentProp conducted four searches with members from Scripps Institution of Oceanography and University of Delaware, and DPAA. Afterwards, three excavations were conducted by Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) partners. During May 2019, the crash site was excavated by Ships of Exploration and Discovery Research (SHIPS). They recovered remains and material evidence. During September 2021, the crash site was again excavated by Project Recover (formerly BentProp) and Legion Undersea Services (Legion). Additional remains and material evidence were recovered. During July 2023 Project Recover and Legion Undersea Services (Legion) completed a third excavation at the crash site. They recovered additional osseous materials and material evidence. The recovered remains were sent to the DPAA for laboratory for analysis. During 2023, DPAA scientifically identified the two crew were identified: Mitts and Di Petta. On March 10, 2023 Mitts was identified was identified using dental analysis and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis. On May 22, 2023 Di Petta was identified was identified using dental analysis and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis. On August 12, 2024 Manown was identified as the remaining remains and using anthropological and circumstantial analysis and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analysis. Memorials The entire crew were officially declared dead on September 11, 1945. All three are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After all three were identified, a rosette was placed next to each name. Manown earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Maplewood Cemetery in Kingwood, WV. On October 29, 2024 he will be buried at Maplewood Cemetery in Kingwood, WV. Mitts earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. On September 11, 2023 he was buried at Mission Memorial Park in Seaside, California. Di Petta earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. On January 3, 2023 the Department of Defense (DoD) identified the remains of Anthony Di Petta. On July 11, 2023 he was buried at Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery in Arneytown, NJ. References Note some sources including the DoD list Anthony Di Petta as DiPetta (one word) or Dipetta (no capital P). Navy Serial Number Search Results - TBM-1C Avenger 17018 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List September 1944 - TBM-1C Avenger 17018 DPAA Personnel Profile - does not have a profile for Jay R. Manown American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jay R. Manown Jr. FindAGrave - Lt Jay Ross Manown Jr. (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - J. Ross Manown Jr. (memorial marker photo) DPAA Personnel Profile - ARM1C Wilbur Archie Mitts American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wilbur A. Mitts FindAGrave - ARM1 Wilbur Archie Mitts (photos, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - ARM1 Wilbur Archie Mitts (photos, grave photo) DPAA Personnel Profile - AOM1C Anthony DiPetta American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Anthony Di Petta FindAGrave - AOM1 Anthony Dipetta (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Anthony DiPetta (photos, DoD news release, Brigadier General William C. Doyle Memorial Cemetery) DPAA Personnel Profile - Anthony Dipetta New York Post "WWII sailor remains returned to NJ nearly 80 years after battle crash" July 8, 2023 DPAA Year In Review 2023 [PDF] page 2 (Dipetta) DPAA Press Release - Sailor Accounted For From World War II (Di Petta, A.) March 10, 2023 DPAA Press Release - Sailor Accounted For From World War II (Mitts, W.) May 22, 2023 DPAA Press Release - Pilot Accounted for from WWII (Manown, J.) August 12, 2024 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated August 12, 2024 |
 Avenger  MIA 3 Missing Resolved |
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