Crew History
Larsen survived this crash, but was later later killed on May 11, 1945 during a kamakazie attack off Okinawa while aboard USS Bunker Hill while serving with VF-84. He was buried at sea after the attack.

Mission History
Took off from Henderson Field on a dive bombing mission against shipping off Kahili off southern Bougainville area. After the crew experienced problems with the engine of their SBD, they took this older SBD instead. Taking off late, they proceeded to the target behind the formation, and dive bombed a transport alone, after the rest of the formation had already bombed.

After pulling up from their dive, A6M Zero fighters attacked, and chased them down to sea level and into clouds, while rear gunner Ose Veesey fired at them. Heading south-east, over Santa Isabel Island, one Zero continued to follow them and succeeded in damaging their canopy, tail and knocked off the radio antenna, before departing. Damaged, the SBD ditched roughly eight miles from Rekata Bay at 14:00.

Both crew were unhurt and paddled ashore in their emergency raft, and spent the night near the ditching site, incase a rescue effort was underway.

Rescue
The next day, they begin walking away from Rekata Bay, and trekked several hours into the jungle, they met friendly natives who notified the Allied coastwatcher on the island.

Early in the morning on June 7th, three natives took them on a canoe loaded with bananas and returned to the coast. Around noon, they heard a PBY Catalina and fired their Very pistol to attract their attention. The PBY landed, and flew them back to Guadalcanal. Back at base, they were give one day off for rest, and returned to flying on June 9th.

Ose M. Veesey recalls:
"I was really impressed and thankful that the Navy would spend time and energy looking for just two of us after a big raid like that. We were landed at Henderson our squadron personnel were at the docks to greet us. Believe me even after our experience we were fortunate. For there were some who didn't return. After only two days we were listed as missing in action, our folk had already been notified and our personal affects were inventoried and packed for shipment."

Relatives
Lynn Owen (daughter):
"He is retired Navy (1941-1961) and was a Chief Petty Officer."

References
Thanks to Ose M. Veesey for additional information
Thanks to Ted Darcy for Larsen's death information

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

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Memories of June 5, 1943 Mission