USMC
1st MAW
MAG-11
VMF-112
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Pilot 1st Lt. Jefferson
J. De Blanc (Lockport / Port Barre, LA)
Crashed January 31, 1943
Pilot History
After the war, DeBlanc earning a masters in math and a
doctorate
in education. He stayed in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring as a
colonel in 1972, after six years as commander of Marine Air Reserve
Group 18 at Belle Chasse Naval Air Station.
Mission
History
One of eight Wildcats that took off from Henderson Field to escort twelve SBDs attacking Japanese cargo ships bound for Vila Harbor, including Toa Maru 2. The
target was 250 miles away, meaning fuel would permit only 15 minutes
over the target for Wildcats.
Over the ships, Japanese seaplanes
were providing escort. De Blanc claimed two F1M2 Pete floatplanes,
then A6M Zeros intercepted. He claimed three Zeros. Low on fuel and severely damaged,
his plane was set on fire forcing him to bail out.
Escape & Rescue
In the ensuing twelve days,
wounded DeBlanc swam for six hours to a Japanese-held island
and
lived for
three days on coconuts before being captured by a tribe of natives
who traded him for a sack of rice to another tribe, who turned him
over to a British Anglican missionary who notified an Allied coastwatcher,
that arranged his rescue. Afterwards, Lt. De Blanc earned the Medal of Honor for this mission.
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Last Updated
October 1, 2009
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Wildcat
Medal of Honor
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