|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USN VF-11 |
Pilot Ensign Leroy W. Childs, O-125455 USNR (MIA / KIA) OR MIA May 6, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Grumman Corporation in Bethpage, New York as a model G-36 with manually operated folding wings. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4F-4 Wildcat bureau number 1192. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to Fighting Squadron 11 (VF-11) "Sun Downers" with squadron code "F 16". No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On May 6, 1943 took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal piloted by Ensign Leroy W. Childs on a mission. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials Childs was officially declared dead on May 7, 1944. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Childs is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Idlewilde Cemetery in Hood River, OR. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4F-4 Wildcat 11992 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List May 1943 - F4F-4 Wildcat 11992 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leroy W. Childs FindAGrave - Ens Leroy W Childs (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Ens Leroy Winston Childs (memorial maker) Eleven "Planes In Peril Part 1" 28:38 - 29:29 describes the loss of F-4F Wildcat code F 16 piloted by Childs Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 12, 2023 |
 Wildcat  MIA 1 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
