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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USN USS Enterprise VT-20  USN c1944   Last Flight Home 2003  Justin Taylan 2009 |
Pilot Ensign Donald E. Baxter, O-299549 (MIA / KIA) CA Gunner ARM1c Arthur C. Miller, 2234574 (MIA / KIA, BR) Poughkeepsie, NY Radio AOM2c Wesley R. Stuart, 8857537 (MIA / KIA) French Camp, CA Crashed September 13, 1944 Aircraft History Built by General Motors, Eastern Aircraft Division as model G-40. Delivered to the United States Navy (USN) as TBM-1C Avenger bureau number 16956. Wartime History Assigned to Torpedo Squadron 20 (VT-20) aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6). No known nickname, nose art or squadron number. Mission History On September 13, 1944 took off from USS Enterprise (CV-6) piloted by Ensign Donald E. Baxter on a bombing mission against Peleliu Airfield on Peleliu Island. While in a steep dive on approach, this Avenger was hit by anti-aircraft fire, exploded and crashed north of the airfield. When this aircraft failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage This Avenger crashed on a hilltop ridge later designated Hill 100 (Pope’s Ridge / Walt's Ridge). The wreckage includes the engine and scattered wreckage over a mile area spanning from Hill 100 to the Horseshoe. Wreckage This crash site was generally known since the early 1990s, but had not been precisely identified. During March 5-6, 2003, the wreckage was revisited by Pat Scannon and Daniel O'Brien and others from Bent Prop. They located a data plate confirming it was a TBF Avenger and the US Navy Bureau Number '16956' painted on the external skin. Also a machine gun and other parts of the Avenger and afterwards reported their findings to Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC). During Spring 2005, this site was re-investigated by JPAC, but failed to recover any additional remains, although some Japanese and Palau remains were found in the same area. Again in 2005, the wreckage was again visited by Bent Prop. Recovery of Remains After the Battle of Peleliu, this crash site was visited by American forces and remains were recovered, thought to belong to Stuart. Memorials Baxter and Miller were were officially declared dead September 14, 1945. Both are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Baxter also has a memorial marker at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA at Whispering Pines, Map 3, Lot 1137, Space 1. Remains returned to Stuart's Family The remains believed to be Stuart were temporary buried at the USAAF Cemetery, Manila #2. In 1948, the US Navy returned remains to Stuart's mother but she refused to believe they were her son. Accepting them as someone's son, the remains were interned at the Stuart family's mausoleum in San Joaquin, California. After the 2005 visit to the crash site by JPAC, Stuart's sister Mary Ellen Stuart-Roberts had the remains exhumed and paid $11,000 for private DNA testing. The results confirmed that the remains could not be those of Stuart and informed JPAC. In April 2008 the unidentified remains buried as Stuart were accepted by the U.S. Navy and flown from Travis AFB to Hickam AFB and delivered to JPAC. During October 2009, these remains were identified with mDNA testing as those of Arthur C. Miller. Identification of Miller During October 2009, JPAC confirmed remains recovered were identified as Arthur Miller. On November 7, 2009 Miller was buried alongside his mother at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery in Poughkeepsie, NY at Section 25. Relatives Don Haake (nephew of Donald Baxter) Mary Ellen Roberts (sister of Wessly Stuart) "Stuart was flying his first combat mission." Arthur Miller (son of Arthur Miller) A World War II Purple Heart Veteran Aviation Radioman First Class References Baxter was the heir of Baxter Pharmaceuticals (Baxter International). Prior to the mission, the Avenger's regular gunner "Corky" Courtman was replaced by ARM1c Arthur C. Miller for this mission. Navy Serial Number Search Results - TBM-1C Avenger 16956 "16956 lost over Peleliu. Date? Wreckage is still there." USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List September 1944 - TBM-1C Avenger 16956 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald E. Baxter American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Arthur C. Miller "remains were recovered and identified in 2009" FindAGrave - Ens Donald E Baxter (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Ens Donald E. Baxter, Jr (memorial marker) FindAGrave - ARM1 Arthur C Miller (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Arthur Carl Miller (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Wesley Raymond Stuart Last Flight Home interviews relatives of each crew member and tells the story of this aircraft Last Flight Home: Arthur C. Miller's son presented flag quicktime movie 5.2 mb Last Flight Home: Mary Ellen Stuart-Roberts quicktime movie 3.6 mb Bent Prop: P-Man V Attachment 2 a partially known prior site as a US TBM-1C, 2003 Bent Prop: P-Man VII Final Report Attachment 3 Baxter Avenger BuNo 16956, 2005 SacBee: When DNA proves MIA is still missing, search goes on March12, 2008 CBS: Wrong WWII Remains Sent to Stockton Family April 23, 2008 News 10: Wrong Body Buried In San Joaquin Cemetery March 12, 2008 Oakland Tribune: Airmen MIA again after remains incorrectly ID'ed April 24, 2008 Poughkeepsie Journal "After 65 years, Poughkeepsie airman's family has chance to say goodbye" Nov 3, 2009 Thanks Pat Scannon and Reid Joyce / Bent Prop for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated February 22, 2024 |
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