USMC
VMSB 144
Robert Keet, 1995
Pilot Lt. James Wilson Dougherty
Gunner Sgt Robert Bernard
Shot Down July 23, 1943
Aircraft History
Constructors Number 2275.
Mission
History
Damaged while attacking Japanese positions at
Kindu on Gurasai Point, Rendova Island. Hit by 40mm anti-aircraft
fire while dropping his 500lbs bombs at 1:00pm, this SBD was forced to ditched
at Rendova
Harbor, east of the Allied
landing beach. Both crew were unhurt in the crash, aside from a
wound to the pilot's head from hitting the bombsite while
ditching.
Identification & Visit
This wreck was identified by Ronnie Day. On July 23, 1995, the former
pilot, James Dougherty, traveled to Rendova to dive on his
old airplane. He sat in the cockpit, and the visit was the
topic of a documentary Lost
Warriors of the South Pacific by Pacific Media Associates
/ Robert Keet
Robert Keet adds:
"The video of the pilot getting back into the seat of his SBD
was July 23, 1995. Exactly 52 years to the minute after being
brought down by a 40mm yak yak. Jim even visited the exact
guns that hit his plane as they were still at Kindu. The guys
that helped him into the plane were myself, Bill Angione (a
Los Angeles County Sheriffs dept Diver/Paramedic/Instructor
and Dave Cooke, (Solomon Sea Divers, Munda)."
References
The video "Lost
Warriors of the South Pacific" covers Dougherty's 1995 visit. Thanks
to Robert Keets for photos and visit details. Documentary War Wrecks of the Coral Sea also dives this wreck.
SBD
12'
