Mission History
Took off from USS Saratoga on a strike against Buka Airfield and Bonis Airfield. Missing in Action on the mission.

Welles bailed out and nearly landed on the burning wreckage of his crashed fighter. He was immediately taken prisoner by the Japanese, and held at the airfield, but was not restrained or beaten.

Later, he met Joseph G. Nason pilot of SBD Dauntless 03359 who was also brought to Buka as a prisoner. At that point, Welles was heavily bearded. Together, they were tranfered to a Destroyer and sent to Rabaul, where they were both interned in the Rabaul POW Camp in town.

Reportedly, Welles transferred from Kempei-Tai to Navy custody on December 19, 1943. His ultimate fate is unknown, he did not survive the war.

References
Horio You Next Die! pages 52 - 57
The Siege of Rabaul appendix
Thanks to Ted Darcy and Edward Rogers for additional information
Note: some references list this fighter shot down on November 2, 1942

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

F6F

POW / MIA

References to POW Welles