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| USN Patrol Wing 10 VP 101 Former Assignments Dutch Navy |
Pilot Lt(jg) John Mott Robertson, O-077570, USNR, NAP (MIA / KIA) CA Crew ACO Joseph F. Long, 4003663 USN (MIA / KIA) MA Crew AMM1c Zygmunt S. Lewall, 3110189 USN (MIA / KIA) MI Crew AMM2c Van L. Shelton, 2716605 USN (MIA / KIA) AL Crew RM1c Hans H. Poulsen, 3759022 USN (MIA / KIA) CA Crew AOM2c John E. Simpson, 3282751 USN (MIA / KIA) MI Crew RM2c Wayne S. Wilson, 3813212 USN (MIA / KIA) AZ Crew Vernon Failer, 3364505 USN (MIA / KIA) WA Crashed February 24, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in San Diego as Model 28-5MNE. Purchased by the Marine-Luchtvaartdienst (MLD) Dutch Navy for use in the Netherlands East Indies (NEI) as PBY-5 Catalina 28-5MNE Y-?? (two digits) possibly Y-50. This Catalina never had a U.S. Navy (USN) bureau number (BuNo) assigned. Ferried overseas to the Netherlands East Indies (NEI). Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Navy (USN) to Patrol Wing 10 (Pat Wing 10) to Patrol Squadron 101 (VP-101) with number 42 and operated by a U.S. Navy crew. Mission History On February 24, 1942 took off piloted by Lt(jg) John M. Robertson on a patrol mission. Over Makassar Strait, this Catalina was intercepted by Japanese fighters and shot down. When this Catalina failed to return it was declared Missing In Action (MIA). Likely, this Catalina was shot down by two A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kokutai including Lt. Katsutoshi Kawamata with an F1M2 Pete piloted by NPO 1/c Saburo Takayasu from the Sanuki Maru intercepted a flying boat and claimed it as shot down. Lou Dorny / The Baltic Group Archive adds: "From looking at available Dutch records and Tom Womackâs book, I believe it was probably Y-50. Loss data is solid: 24 February, Makassar Strait, NEI, doubtless to Tainan Ku A6Ms. Shores, Bloody Shambles, Vol. 2 / 226 says Tainan Ku Lieut. Katsutoshi Kawamata claimed a flying boat shot down. A Sanuki Maru floatplane flown by NPO 1/c Saburo Takayasu reported downing a twin-engined flying boat 345 miles off Laut Island (SE Borneo) with two fighters. Thus these two attacks may have been on the same aircraft and the position is helpful. #42 may well have been loss to these attacks. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on December 4, 1945. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - PBY-5 Catalina American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John M. Robertson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph F. Long American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Zygmunt S. Lewall American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Van L. Shelton American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Hans H. Poulsen American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John E. Simpson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wayne S. Wilson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Vernon Failer FindAGrave - LtJG John M Robertson (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - ACOM Joseph F Long (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AMM1 Zygmunt S Lewall (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - ACMM Van L Shelton (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - AMM2 Hans H Poulsen (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - RM2 John E Simpson (tablets of the missing) FIndAGrave - AOM2 Wayne S Wilson (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - RM2 Lester Vernon Failer (tablets of the missing) Bloody Shambles, Vol. 2 page 226 states Tainan Ku Lieut. Katsutoshi Kawamata claimed a flying boat shot down Thanks to Lou Dorny / The Baltic Group Archive for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated March 3, 2021 |
 PBY MIA 8 Missing |
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