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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USN USS Cabot (CVL-28) VT-29 |
Pilot Lt. John H. Ballantine Jr., O-121823 USNR (MIA / KIA) New York, NY Gunner AOM2c Walter K. Biye, 6285440 USNR (MIA / KIA) Fort Defiance, AZ Radio ARM3c William J. Hesse, 7106002 USNR (MIA / KIA) Irvington Place, NJ MIA November 19, 1944 Aircraft History Built by General Motors, Eastern Aircraft Division. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as TBM-1C Avenger bureau number 46355. Wartime History Assigned to Torpedo Squadron 29 (VT-29) aboard USS Cabot (CVL-28). No known nickname, nose art or squadron number. Mission History On November 19, 1944 launched from USS Cabot (CVL-28) piloted by Lt. John H. Ballantine Jr. armed with 500 pound bombs on a bombing mission against Lipa Airfield (West Lipa) on Luzon in the Philippines. Over the target, this Avenger exploded over the runway. No parachutes or survivors were observed. When this aircraft failed to return, the crew were officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All three are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Ballantine earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) with Gold Star, Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Biye earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, posthumously. Hesse earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, posthumously. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - TBM-1C Avenger 46355 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List November 1944 - TBM-1C Avenger 46355 NARA USS Cabot War Diary - November 19, 1944 pages 2-3 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John H. Ballantine Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Walter K. Biye American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William J. Hesse FindAGrave - John H Ballantine, Jr (tablets of the missing, Distinguished Flying Cross DFC citation and gold star) FindAGrave - AOM2 Walter K Biye (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - ARM3 William John Hesse (tablets of the missing) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated January 27, 2025 |
 Avenger  MIA 3 Missing |
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