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  F4U-1 Corsair Bureau Number 02178  
USMC
MAW-1
MAG-11
VMF-124


USMC 1942
Pilot  Major William E. Gise, O-005153 C. O. VMF-124 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA
MIA  May 13, 1943

Aircraft History
Built by Vought. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F4U-1 Corsair bureau number 02178. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC).

Wartime History
Assigned to the United States Marine Corps (USMC), 1st Marine Air Wing (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 11 (MAG-11), Marine Fighting Squadron 124 "Whistling Death/Wild Aces" VMF-124. No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On May 13, 1943 at 12:10pm took off from Fighter 1 on Guadalcanal piloted by Major William E. Gise leading fifteen F4U Corsairs on a scramble to intercept incoming Japanese planes. Over the Russell Islands, engaged A6M2 Zeros from 204 Kōkūtai (204 Air Group). When this Corsair failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Search
Later that afternoon, a search mission was conducted for Major Gise, without result.

Memorials
Gise was officially declared dead on May 14, 1945. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Posthumously, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and earned the Purple Heart. On May 14, 1943 Captain Brewer became the squadron Commanding Officer (C.O.) and Captain Quilty Executive Officer (E.O.). He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing.

References
Navy Serial Number Search Results - F4U-1 Corsair 02178
USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List May 1943 - F4U Corsair 02178
NARA VMF-124 War Diary May 1 to 31, 1943 pages 1-2
(Page 1) "May 13, 1943: Scramble at 1210 - Major Gise took off with fifteen planes to intercept. Contact was made over Russell's. Major Gise did not return and was reported missing in action."
(Page 2) "May 13, 1943 (con't) Search - Lts Walsh, Spencer, Langer, Rood made search for Major Gise - results negative."
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William Edward Gise
FindAGrave - LTC William Edward Gise (photo, tablets of the missing)
IJN Zero Battle Diary #1 victories and losses for Zero over Solomon from Feb. to July 1943 page 231

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Last Updated
March 27, 2023

Tech Info
F4U

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
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