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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USN AG-99 VT-99 |
Pilot Ensign James R. Yearsley, Jr., 0-403418 USNR (MIA / KIA) Philadelphia, PA Radio ARM3 Robert I Leavitt, 7265448 (MIA / KIA) IL Gunner Leonard F. Hofkamp (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Ditched March 21, 1945 Aircraft History Built by General Motors, Eastern Aircraft Division. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as TBM-1C Avenger bureau number 45470. Wartime History Assigned to Air Group 99 (AG-99) to Torpedo Squadron 99 (VT-99). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On March 21, 1945 took off from Orote Airfield on Guam piloted by Ensign James R. Yearsley on a navigation training mission and ditched. When the plane failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was TBM Avenger 16924 pilot Ensign Robert G. Stowell (rescued). Search Afterwards, searches were flown for this plane and crew for the remainder of the month but no trace was found. The other crew were rescued by USS Wilkes (DD-441) on March 24, 1945. Memorials The entire crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. As the mission was non-combat, none of the crew earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. All are memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing. Yearsley on panel 2. Leavitt and Hofkamp on panel 3. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - TBM-1C Avenger 45470 USN Loss List Summary Sheet - TBM-1C Avenger 45470 NARA U.S. Navy Torpedo Squadron 99 (VT-99) War Diary March 1945 pages 2, 4, 5 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James R. Yearsley Jr. FindAGrave - Ens James Raymond Yearsley Jr. (courts of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert I. Leavitt FindAGrave - ARm3 Robert I Leavitt (courts of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Robert Ira “Bobby” Leavitt (photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leonard F. Hofkamp FindAGrave - ARm2 Leonard F Hofkamp (courts of the missing photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 1, 2025 |
 Avenger  MIA 3 Missing |
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