F6F-3 Hellcat Bureau Number 40121

USN
USS Belleau Wood
VF-24

 

Pilot  Ensign John R. Clem, O-306169 (USNR) (KIA) WV
Crashed  February 1, 1944

Pilot History
Clem is memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial and was awarded the Purple Heart.

Mission History
This Hellcat took off from USS Belleau Wood. It was damaged after flying through smoke and debris that caused the tail to break away. Then it crashed off Bigel Island at Kwajalien Atoll.

Memorials
Memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Honolulu Memorial Cemetery (Punchbowl).

References
Thanks to Phillip Fazzini for pilot details and Henry Sakaida for Bureau Number lookup.

Contribute Information

 

Tech Info
F6F

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