Major Marion R. McCown, Jr.
U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Fighting Squadron 321 (VMF-321) "Hell’s Angels"
F4U Corsair pilot Missing In Action (MIA)

Background
Marion Ryan McCown, Jr. was born on January 17, 1917 to parents Marion Ryan McCown and Grace Emile Aimar McCown in Charleston, South Carolina. Growing up in South Carolina, he explored the wilderness and was a member of the Boy Scouts and a golden goves boxer. While attending Georgia Tech in Atlanta he got his private pilot's license.


Wartime History
McCown enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reseve (USMCR) attended flight school, earned his wings and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant with serial number O-009610. Sent overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Assigned to Marine Fighting Squadron 321 (VMF-321) "Hell’s Angels" as a fighter pilot flying the F4U Corsair. Nicknamed "Mac" in the squadron.

On January 1, 1944 took off piloting F4U Corsair on a patrol over Torokina on Bougainville.

On January 3, 1944 took off piloting F4U Corsair on a fighter sweep over Rabaul.

On January 7, 1944 took off piloting F4U Corsair 17435 on a patrol over Torokina on Bougainville without contact. That same day, escorted B-24 Liberators on a bombing mission over Rabaul.

On January 9, 1944 took off piloting F4U Corsair 17517 on a mission to escort bombers over Rabaul and made contact with enemy fighters.

On January 11, 1944 took off piloting F4U Corsair 18173 on a mission to escort bombers over Rabaul without contact.

On January 13, 1944 took off piloting F4U Corsair 17489 on a mission to escort bombers over Rabaul but was recalled.

On January 15, 1944 took off piloting F4U Corsair 17489 (USN loss list says 17416) on a mission to escort bombers over Rabaul without contact. Returning, ditched into the sea off Hon Island (Mik Mik Island) and was rescued by a PT Boat and returned to duty.

On January 17, 1944 took off piloting F4U Corsair 17517 on a mission to escort bombers over Rabaul but aborted early and landed due to bad oil leaks and other defects with his plane.

Mission History
On January 20, 1944 at 11:25am took off from Torokina Airfield on Bougainville piloting F4U Corsair 02402 as one of eleven F4U Corsairs on a mission to escort B-25 Mitchells on a bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul.

When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Also lost was F4U Corsair 17914 pilot 1st Lt. Roger Hugh Brindos (POW) and F4U Corsair 55835 pilot 1st Lt. Robert W. Marshall (MIA).

Wreckage
In fact, this Corsair crashed into a stream bank near Viveren village and Mount Varzin. During 1983, the crash site was first discovered including the engine, tail and rear fuselage and wings. The remains of the pilot were present at the wreck. A portion of the wreckage with U.S. Navy (USN) Bureau Number (BuNo) 02402 was recovered by Brian Bennett during the early 1980s and is displayed today at the Kokopo Museum.

Recovery of Remains
This crash site was visited by CILHI / JPAC at least three occasions. (1) According to A Bond of Brothers "in 1991, when Army researchers visited the site, they didn't find sufficient remains to identify with DNA." (2) Later, In July 2006, another JPAC team revisited the site and found additional remains. (3) In May 2008, JPAC again visited the site and recovered additional remains.

On May 14, 2008 the suspected remains of Lt Allan S. Harrison III and Captain Marion R. McCown were recovered, flown to Port Moresby PNGDF HQ, then flown to Hawaii for further identification. On December 19, 2008 the Department of Defense (DoD) announced McCown was officially identified and accounted-for.

Memorials
McCown was declared dead on January 16, 1946. Posthumously, he was promoted to the rank of Major. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. After McCown was identified, a rosette was placed next to his name indicating he was recovered.

On January 18, 2009 McCown was buried at Unitarian Church Cemetery in Charleston, SC next to his mother, sister, and grandparents. His grave has the epitaph "Returned home Jan 18, 2009 you are not forgotten". The graves are closer to Archdale Street, between the church and Gage Hall.

During 2009, nephew John Almeida donated McCown artifacts to the American Military Museum Charleston, SC. They created a display about his life and service with his dress uniform, flight log, aviator wings, name strip, Air Medal and other items. When the museum temporarily closed, the fate of this display is unknown.

Relatives
John Almeida (nephew of McCown)

References
Note, records incorrectly state McCown was piloting F4U Corsair 17448, but in fact he was flying this aircraft, F4U 02402 or possibly switched planes prior to take off. Also, squadron records list his surname as "Mc Gown" [sic McCown].
Aviators Flight Log Book - Marion R. McCown, Jr. - January 1944
"Date: 20 [January 1944] / Type of machine: F4U-1 / [BuNo] Number: 02402 / Duration of flight: [blank] / Character of flight: combat / Pilot: self [McCown] / Remarks: Missing In Action, Rabaul area".
NARA "Marine Fighter Squadron 321 (VMF-321) War Diary January 1944" pages 2, 3
(Page 2) "Roster of Flight Echelon - Mc Cown, Marion R. Jr. Captain USMCR"
(Page 3) "Mc Cown, Marion R. Capt. Missing In Action 20 Jan 44"
(Page 27) "Forces Engaged: Wardle, Harmon, See, Whiting, Hames, Mc Cown, Griffith, Adam, Brindos, Samuelson, Marshall / Losses: VMF-321, Capt. Mc Cown, Lts. Brindos and Marshall Missing"
(Page 28) "Narrative Account: ...After scissoring once, Lt. See lost sight of Lts. Brindos, and Marshall, the other section... Capt. Mc Cown, and Lts. Brindos and Marshall failed to return from the mission."
(Page 29) "Approximately 40 Zekes and 7 Tonys were seen over the area."
NARA "Aircraft Action Report (AAR) VMF-321 January 20 1944 Report No. 13" pages 88-91
(Page 89) "Capt. M. R. Mc Cown, Jr. / Cause: Unknown / Missing In Action"
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Marion R. McCown Jr.
"Major McCown's remains have been recovered, identified and interred at a private cemetery in Charleston, SC"
FindAGrave - Maj Marion Ryan McCown, Jr (photos, obituary, tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Maj Marion Ryan McCown, Jr (photos, Unitarian Church Cemetery)
DPMO News Release "Marine Pilot Missing In Action From WWII Is Identified" December 19, 2008
Service Personnel Not Recovered Following WWII rank as Major, wartime records list as Capitan
Six decades and half a world away, by K. Baron and B. Bender May 25, 2008
"Records incorrectly state McCown was piloting F4U 17448, but in fact he was flying this aircraft, F4U 02402 (or possibly switched planes prior to take off)."
A Bond of Brothers by Kevin Baron and Bryan Bender May 26, 2008
On May 14, [2008] the suspected remains of Lieutenant Allan S. Harrison III [pilot F4U Corsair 55908] and Captain Marion R. McCown were placed in a specially designed transfer cases and carried into a small chapel at the headquarters of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force, in the island nation's capital city of Port Moresby."
The Post and Courier Charleston.net "A patriot's return" by Brian Hicks December 14, 2008
You Are Not Forgotten (2013) by Bryan Bender mentions this loss