USMC
VMF-124
Pilot Lt Harold R. Stewart, O-011447 (MIA / KIA) AZ
Shot Down February 14, 1943 "Saint Valentines Day Massacre"
Aircraft History
Built by Vought.
Mission History
One of 12 F4Us that escorted nine PB4Y-1 from VB-101 on a daylight mission to bomb Japanese shipping off southern Bougainville. Also escorted by 10 P-38s of the 347th FG, 339th FS. The PB4Ys hit the Hatachi Maru and damaging another ship.
Intercepted by enemy fighters and floatplanes from Shortland, this fighter was damaged by machine gun fire to the fuel tank, causing the tank to drain, diving down from 20,000' ditched and was pursued by Zeros. who strafed the plane and yellow raft in the water.
Corsair, page 30:
"Two F4U's were also lost with their pilots, Lieutenants Lyon and Stewart....only 3 Zekes were downed and one of them had collided with Lyon's Corsair... Stewart's element leader, First Lieutenant Lloyd B. Pearson reported what happened... 'Stewart's plane was racked with machine-gun fire diagonally across the main fuel cell. When Stewart rejoined me after the melee, I could see the gasoline spraying out of the numerous bullet holes. He appeared to be okay. After approximately ten minutes with us his fuel gave out, he waved goodbye and nosed down to the water from about 20,000 feet. The zero's then followed him down, shooting at him all the while. He made a successful water landing and I thought I could see a yellow spot (his life raft) beside the cockpit. However, the zero's continued to strafe him. We never heard from Stewart again"
Memorials
Stewart was declared dead on January 10, 1945. Memorialized at the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.
References
US Navy Loss Microfilm lists the pilot as "Harold B. Stewart'
Thanks to Paul A. Rosles for additional information
Corsair, page 30
F4U
MIA
