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  TBF-1 Avenger Bureau Number ? Number T 112
USN
CAG-11
VT-11

Click For Enlargement
VT-11 c1943
Pilot  Lt(jg) Robert Jefferson "Porky" Snell, O-116868 (MIA / KIA) Meridian, MS
Crew  AOM2c Wayne Lowell Wood, 6380771 USNR (MIA / KIA) Cole Harbor, ND
Crew  ARM2c Reginald "Reynold" Leon Drake, 3117951 (MIA / KIA) Battle Creek, MI
MIA  June 5, 1943

Aircraft History
Built by Grumman as Model G-40. Constructors Number unknown (four digits). Delivered to the United States Navy (USN) as TBF-1 Avenger bureau number unknown (five digits). Sent overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC).

Wartime History
Assigned to Carrier Air Group 11 (CAG-11) to Torpedo Squadron 11 (VT-11). Squadron number "T 112". No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On June 5, 1943 took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal piloted by Lt(jg) Robert Jefferson "Porky" Snell on a bombing mission against Japanese shipping between Shortland and Bougainviille. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA).

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead on January 5, 1946. All three are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

Snell earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

Wood earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Riverview Cemetery in Washburn, ND at plot O-122.

Drake earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, MI at section MA site 106.

References
Intelligence Report VT-11 Cactus June 5, 1943
"Lt(jg) Snell was seen by Lt. Livezey to be attacked right behind him and after pulling out was seen to be attacked by four Zeros. Lt. (jg) Weiss believes Snell to be shot down but didn't actually see this."
VF-11 Appendix A
"Robert J. Snell, USNR (Missing In Action) Meridian, Miss. Air Medal"
History of Torpedo Squadron Eleven (VT-11) Part I - 10 October 1942 to 24 September 1943 Chronology page 2:
"5 June 1943 - missing in action Lt. (jg) Robert Jefferson Snell USNR, Meridian, Miss; Wayne Lowell Lowell Morre, AOM2c USNR, 638 07 71, Cole Harbor, N.D.; Reynold Leon Drake ARM2c, USN, 311 79 51, Battle Creek Mich."
USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List June 1943 does not list this loss
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert J. Snell
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Wayne L. Wood
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Reginald L. Drake
FindAGrave - LtJG Robert J Snell (photo, tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - AOM2 Wayne Lowell Wood (photo, tablets of the missing photo)
FindAGrave - Wayne Lowell Wood (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - ARM2 Reginald L Drake (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Reginald Leon Drake (memorial marker photo)
USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List June 1943 does not list this Avenger as lost on 6/5/1943

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Last Updated
June 4, 2022

Tech Info
Avenger

MIA
MIA
3 Missing
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