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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-11 VMSB-132 |
Pilot MSgt Howard Harvey Hicks, 266771 (KIA / BNR) CO Gunner Cpl James M. Lasseigne (rescued) Crashed June 2, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 1867. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-3 Dauntless bureau number 10697. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to 1st Marine Air Wing (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11), Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132 (VMSB-132) "Crying Red Asses". No known nickname, nose art or squadron number. Mission History On June 2, 1943 took off from Bomber 1 Airfield (Palikulo Field, Fighter 1) on Espiritu Santo piloted by MSgt Howard H. Hicks as one of twenty SBDs on a search mission for SBD 10338 piloted by Dieffenbach that ditched. One of twenty SBDs that took off from Bomber 1 Airfield (Palikulo Field, Fighter 1) on Espiritu Santo on a search mission for SBD 10338 piloted by Dieffenbach that ditched. This aircraft was led by SBD 06962 piloted by Gordon on a sector search for the missing aircraft. Neither heard the message to return to base when the aircraft was found. Both searched until their fuel became low, then returned to Espiritu Santo. Blown off course by a tropical storm, the pair attempted to determine their location and radioing their position to base. They were approximately 35 miles northwest of Fighter 1 on a heading of 135 degrees, near Piapouria. SBD 06962 piloted by Gordon began to circle to the right to loose altitude while this aircraft made a circle to the left and crashed into a hill. Hicks circled to the left over the sea, leveled off too soon then stalled and crashed into the ocean off Point Cumberland. Pilot Hicks died in the crash and his body never surfaced. Fates of the Crew Gunner Lasseigne managed to get out of the plane and swam to shore. Memorials Hicks was officially declared dead on June 3, 1944. Hicks is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing. Relatives Tom Rod Hicks (son of MTSGT Howard H. Hicks) "VMSB-132 was engrossed in 'radio problems' doing practice navigation over the open ocean off of Espiritu Santo. One aircraft, SBD 10338 piloted by Dieffenbach became lost. When it was determined that he was well beyond his maximum fuel time, a search mission of twenty SBD's was launched. Dieffenbacj and his radioman-gunner were found sitting atop a coral reef where they had been forced to ditch. My father MTSGT Howard H. Hicks, assigned a sector along with MGUN Ken Gordon and his radio gunner Sgt. H. M. Falton. They failed to here the recall when Dieffenbach was found and continued the search until they reached their maximum search time. They turned back towards Espiritu to find that they had been blown off course by a tropical storm." Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated August 16, 2022 |
 SBD MIA 1 Missing  15 S 166.45 E |
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