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| USMC MAW 1 MAG 21 VMSB-236 "Black Panthers" |
Pilot 1st Lt. W. A. Monfort (survived) Gunner Sgt Henry Michael Mateja, 370468 USMC (MIA / KIA) PA Crashed December 16, 1943 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number unknown (four digits). Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-5 Dauntless Bureau Number unknown (five digits). Possibly, SBD-4 Dauntless 10560 or SBD-5 Dauntless 28451 or another unknonwn number. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), MAG 21 (MAG-21), Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 236 (VMSB-236) "Black Panthers". No known nickname, nose art or markings. Wartime History On December 16, 1943 took off from Munda Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. W. A. Monfort with gunner Sgt Henry Michael Mateja on a strike against Sohano Island and Bonis Airfield on Bougainville. Returning from the mission, the formation was flying at roughly 1,500' when this SBD suffered an engine failure and accidentally crashed into SBD-5 Dauntless 35968 piloted by 1st Lt. R. C. Oughton impacting the right wing approximately 6 miles off the coast of Bougainville between the mouth of the Tosani River and Sarime River. Both planes went into violent spins and crashed into the sea. Both pilots managed to bail out, both gunners did not. Also lost was SBD-5 Dauntless pilot Lt. Quinlan ditched near Torokina with both crew rescued by a motor launch. Fate of the Crew Gunner Sgt Henry M. Mateja was unable to bail out and died in the collision or crash. Pilot Monfort managed to bail out. Later, he was rescued by PBY Catalina "Dumbo" from Torokina and returned to duty. Memorials Gunner Sgt Henry M. Mateja was officially declared dead December 17, 1944. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Mateja is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. He also has a memorial marker at Madonna Cemetery in New Castle, PA. References USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List December 1943 does not list the BuNo of each SBD lost and several as VMSB-235 [sic VMSB-236] possibly, SBD-4 Dauntless 10560 or SBD-5 Dauntless 28451 or another unknonwn BuNo. USN / USMC Loss microfilm - December 1943 SBD-5 Dauntless 35968 listed as "expended" (loss code = 12E) NARA VMSB-236 War Diary December 1943 page 2 (Page 2) "16 December [1943] Sixteen cres of the forward flight echelon participate in a strike on enemy installations on Sohana Island [Sohano] and Bonis Strip [Bonis Airfield], Bougainville. Copy of mission report attached. After the strike was completed and while the planes were returning to base two aircraft, one piloted by First Lieutenant R. C. Oughton, USMCR, of VMSB-236, and the other piloted by First Lieutenant W. A. Monfort of VMSB-245 (USMCR), were involved in a mid-air collision at about 1500 feet at a point approximately 6 miles off the Bougainville shore between Tosani and Sarime Rivers. The casue of the accident was due to the failure of Monfort's engine while flying above Lt. Oughton's... (Page 3) "...section. His plane fell int[o] Lt. Oughton's striking the latter's plane near the right auxillary wing tank. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Henry Michael Mateja FindAGrave - Sgt Henry Michael Mateja (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Henry Michael Mateja (news, obituary, memorial marker photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated January 25, 2024 |
 SBD  MIA 1 Missing |
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