VT-21 / VGS-11 Guadalcanal veteran memorial
VT-21 / VGS-11 Guadalcanal veteranS, 33 KIA WW-ii
BURDICK, Stanley Rudolph, Turret, KIA 20 Jul 43, Guadalcanal
CHRISTENSEN, Charles Dobbyn, Radio, KIA 13 Jun 43, Guadalcanal
DRAISNER, Robert Simon, Radio, KIA 20 Jul 43, Guadalcanal
DRAKE, Robert Franklin, Radio, KIA 30 Oct 44, USS Belleau Wood
DURNER, Jacob Casper, Jr., Turret, KIA 4 Jul 43, Guadalcanal
EUBANK, Elwyn Paul, Pilot, KIA 11 Jan 44, USS Princeton
FELICE, Frank Joseph, Radio, KIA 17 Jul 43, Guadalcanal
GORMAN, John Patrick, Radio, KIA 30 Oct 44, USS Belleau Wood
HAMEETMAN, Ralph Martin, KIS 4 Sep 45, California, USA
JACOBSON, Alfred Frederick, Pilot, KIA 17 Jul 43, Guadalcanal
JOHNSON, Harry Hampton, Turret, KIA 18 May 42, Guadalcanal
JOYCE, James Joseph, Jr., Radio, KIA 25 May 45, USS Suwanee
LARKIN, Edward William, Jr., Pilot, KIA 19 Oct 44, USS Franklin
LAWTY, Malcom, Pilot, KIA 4 Jun 44, USS Kitkun Bay
MARSH, Dodson Anderson, Radio, KIA 30 Oct 44, USS Belleau Wood
MCFARLAND, Richard LaVerne, Radio, KIA 30 Oct 44, USS Belleau Wood
MCKINNEY, Murray Charlton, Pilot, KIA 7 Jul 43, Guadalcanal
NEUBERGER, Clifford Roy, Turret, KIA 17 Jun 43, Guadalcanal
NITZEL, Billie James, Turret, KIA 30 Oct 44, USS Belleau Wood
PAIVA, Manuel, Turret, KIA 18 May 43, Guadalcanal
REYNOLDS, Carroll Wooster, Radio, KIA 20 Jul 43, Guadalcanal
RIDDLE, Joseph Jr., Pilot, KIA 4 Feb 43, Guadalcanal
ROBBINS, Gerald Alva, Pilot, KIA 20 Jul 43, Guadalcanal
ROWBOTHAM, William Everett, Pilot, KIA 12 Jun 44, USS Saratoga
SLEYSTER, Frederick Burton, Pilot, KIA 18 May 43, Guadalcanal
SOQUIST, Reynold, Radio, KIA 30 Oct 44, USS Belleau Wood
STRATTEN, Clifford Andrew, Turret, KIA 20 Jul 43, Guadalcanal
WALL, Joseph Patrick, Radio, KIA 30 Oct 44, USS Belleau Wood
WATERS, Norman Earl, Turret, KIA 30 Oct 44, USS Belleau Wood
WEAVER, Forrest Vernon, Radio, KIA 25 Jul 43, Guadalcanal
WHITTINGHILL, James Derick, Turret, KIA 19 Oct 44, USS Franklin
WINN, William Richard, Jr., Pilot, KIA 20 Jul 43, Guadalcanal
ZEITS, William John, Radio, KIA 30 Oct 44, USS Belleau Wood
VT-21 / VGS-11 DUTY AFTER GUADALCANAL
The VT-21 naval aviators that survived Guadalcanal found homes on several aircraft carriers and eventually flew the TBM-3 Avenger. Many served on the USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) where they proudly kept their VT-21 designation. On October 30, 1944, while on patrol with Task Group 38A east of Leyte, Philippines, the Belleau Wood shot down an attacking Japanese kamikaze that crashed among the planes parked on her stern flight deck. They were loaded with fuel, bombs and ammunition for their next mission. The massive fire and multiple explosions killed 92 sailors. One VT-21 crew was killed while manning their TBM. Twenty-three VT-21 crewmen were killed while gathered for a briefing in the after-ready-room located directly below where the kamikaze crashed through the flight deck. Among the 23 dead, 9 were VT-21 Guadalcanal radiomen and gunners.
Five VT-21 Guadalcanal pilots and 1 gunner were assigned to VT-13 aboard the USS Franklin (CV-13). On March 19, 1945, while launching attacks on mainland Japan 50-miles away, the Franklin lost over 800 sailors when it was bombed by a single Japanese "Judy" dive bomber. Three VT-21 Guadalcanal pilots flew with VT-23 aboard the USS Princeton (CVL-23). The Princeton was sunk by a single “Judy” dive bomber on October 24, 1944, in the Battle of Leyte Gulf with the loss of 108 personnel. At least one VT-21 crew each were assigned to the USS Kitkun Bay (CVE-71) and USS Suwannee (CVE-27). W.E. Rowbotham became the C.O. of VT-12 aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3). Perhaps the saddest casualty of all was Guadalcanal VT-21 turret gunner, Ralph Martin Hameetman, who was killed in the service (KIS) in a midair collision over El Rio, CA on September 4, 1945, just 2-days after the formal surrender of the Japanese aboard the USS Missouri (BB-63).
Of the 143 men listed on the VT-21 Guadalcanal roster, 32 were killed in action during World War II - a death rate of 22%. Only 6 records were found for VT-21 wounded in action which was undoubtedly much higher. During their 2 Guadalcanal tours, VT-21 / VGS-11 crews suffered from malaria, dysentery, dengue fever, beriberi, and other often fatal tropical diseases. It is also a certainty that each survivor carried the psychological scars of his war for the rest of their lives.
CLASS 8-B, NAS CORPUS CHRISTI, 18 KIA / KIS WW-II
BOTSFORD, Russel James, KIS 19 Sep 42, crashed New York, USA
BRANDON, Koller Canine “Casey”, KIA 14 Oct 42, VMF-121 Guadalcanal
CASON, John Byron, KIS 3 Apr 42, crashed Texas, USA (bottom center in picture)
CHRISTEN, Frank Leonard, KIA 16 Dec 42, VMSB-132 Guadalcanal
DOUGHERTY, Leroy Henry, KIA 9 Aug 42, Unalaska, Aleutian Islands, USA
DOYLE, Cecil John “Danny”, KIA 7 Nov 42, VMF-121 Guadalcanal
FOX, Frederick Howard “Fritz”, Jr., KIA 15 Nov 43, Marshalls, VT-9 USS Essex
HATFIELD, Ervin Willard, KIA 8 Apr 43, VMSB-131 Guadalcanal
HENDERSON, Paul McRae “Pablo”, Jr., KIA 15 Jun 44, Iwo, VF-1 USS Yorktown
LEES, Willis Sherman “Budge”, III, KIA 2 Oct 42, VMF-223 Guadalcanal
MCCLURE, Robert Phillip, KIS 20 Aug 1942, crashed South Dakota, USA
MCKINNEY, Murray Charlton, KIA 7 Jul 1943, VT-21 Guadalcanal
MONSON, Paul Warren, KIS 3 May 42, crashed Virginia, USA
MOONEY, Pierce David, KIA 29 Jun 44, Leyte Gulf, VC-3 USS Kalinin Bay
MOSS, Abram Hugh, KIA 1 Feb 43, VMSB-234 Guadalcanal
STITZEL, Cleon Stanley, KIS 24 Jun 45, crashed Georgia, USA
TRENCHARD, Harold Ross, KIS 8 Mar 44, crashed California, USA
WOODS, Wilson Watt, KIA 1 Jul 43, VF-27 Guadalcanal
There were 147 members of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi Class 8-B who graduated with Chile McKinney in spring 1942 as Navy Aviators. At least 18 died during the war - a minimum fatality rate of 12%. Six were Killed in the Service (KIS) in noncombat crashes and 12 were Killed in Action (KIA). Among the KIS was Chile’s roommate and best friend, Ens. John Byron Cason, who collided with a powerline near Skidmore, TX on 3 Apr 1942. Among the 12 KIA, 4 died flying with the Cactus Air Force at Guadalcanal (Aug-Dec 1942). Another roommate, Frank Leonard Christen, flew SBDs with Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 132 (VMSB-132) from Henderson Field and was listed MIA 16 Dec 1942. Christen was last seen attacking a Japanese destroyer off Munda. It was learned later that he died as a POW and his gunner, Pfc Glenn Shattuck, was KIA. 8-B classmates Casey Brandon and Danny Doyle flew F-4-F Wildcats from Henderson Field with Marine Fighter Squadron 121 (VMF-121), famously named "Foss’s Flying Circus" after its skipper, Joseph Jacob “Joe” Foss, who scored 26 of the Circus’s 72 total victories. Casey and Danny were fondly remembered by Joe Foss when he was interviewed by Tom Brokaw for his book “The Greatest Generation”.