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Pilot 1st Lt. Frederick W. McIndoe, 0-025645 USMCR (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Gunner Sgt Dougal Baird Smith, 465248 USMCR (MIA / KIA) Harthill, Scotland Radio Cpl Robert Lloyd Cook, 823967 USMC (MIA / KIA) Sheridan, WY Crashed December 17, 1944 Aircraft History Built by General Motors, Eastern Aircraft Division as model G-40. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as TBM-1C Avenger bureau number 25642. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), 1st Marine Air Wing (1st MAW), Headquarters Squadron (HQ). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On December 17, 1944 took off from Piva North Airfield (Piva Uncle) on Bougainville piloted by 1st Lt. Frederick W. McIndoe with TBF-1 Avenger 06474 pilot 1st Lt. Clarence A. Hess on a supply drop mission to Allied soldiers on Bougainville. When this plane failed to return the crew were listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search Later that day, TBF-1 Avenger 06474 piloted by 1st Lt. Clarence A. Hess with passenger C.J. LaCross searched for the missing plane and crew. Postwar, a team from American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) 604th Quartermaster Graves Registration Company (604th QM GR Co) aboard USS LST-711 made a general search of the Empress Augusta Bay area of Bougainville. Some villagers had found crashed planes and turned over remains to prior AGRS teams and none of the recovered remains were deemed to be associated with this crew. This loss was designated AGRS-PAZ Case No. 7612 but since no specific location was known, no search was conducted. Memorials The entire crew were officially declared dead January 30, 1946. All three earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All three are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Cook also has a memorial marker at Sheridan Municipal Cemetery in Sheridan, WY at Odd Fellows Block H Lot 64. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - TBM-1C Avenger 25642 USN Loss List Summary - TBM-1C Avenger 25642 1st Lt. Clarence A. Hess Flight Logbook December 1944 Date: 17 / Type: TBM-1C / Number: 06474 / Duration of flight 2.9 / Pilot: Hess / Passengers: [blank] Remarks: Search for McIndoe USMC Casualty Report - Frederick Walter McIndoe, 025645 USMC Casualty Report - Dougal Baird Smith USMC Casualty Report - Robert Lloyd Cook, 823967 AGRS (AGRS) Proceedings of Board of Review 31 May 1949 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Frederick W. McIndoe American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Dougal Baird Smith American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert Lloyd Cook FindAGrave - 1Lt Frederick Walter McIndoe (photos) FindAGrave - Dougal Baird Smith (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Robert Lloyd Cook (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Cpl. Robert Lloyd Cook (memorial marker photo) Thanks to C.J. LaCross and Sue Miller 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 February 22, 2024 |
 Avenger  MIA 3 Missing |
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