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  F4U-1 Corsair Bureau Number 02516  
USMC
MAW-1
MAG-11
VMF-124

Pilot  1st Lt James L. Fowler, O-023232 (MIA / KIA) CA
MIA  August 30, 1943

Aircraft History
Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1 Corsair bureau number 02516. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the Pacific and reassembled.

Wartime History
Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), 1st Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW-1), Marine Aircraft Group 11 (MAG-11) to Marine Fighting Squadron 124 "Whistling Death/Wild Aces" VMF-124. This aircraft had no known nickname, nose art or squadron number.

Mission History
On August 30, 1943 took off from Barakoma Airfield on Vella Lavella Island piloted by 1st Lt James L. Fowler and joined other Allied aircraft escorting B-24 Liberators on a bombing mission over Kahilli Airfield on southern Bougainville. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
Fowler was officially declared dead on February 15, 1945. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Fowler is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

References
Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1 Corsair 02516
USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List August 1943 - F4U Corsair 02516
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - James L. Fowler
FindAGrave - 1LT James L Fowler (tablets of the missing)

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Last Updated
August 29, 2022

Tech Info
F4U

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
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