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| USN USS Lexington (CV-16) VF-9  USN 1944 |
Pilot Commander Philip Huston "Tarzan" Torrey, Jr. (MIA / KIA, BR) CA Crashed February 16, 1945 Aircraft History Built by Grumman as Model G-50 in Bethpage, New York. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as F5F-5 Hellcat bureau number 71445. Wartime History Assigned to USS Lexington (CV-16) to Fighting Squadron 9 (VF-9). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On February 16, 1945 took of from USS Lexington CV-16 piloted by Commander Philip Huston Torrey, Jr. on the first carrier aircraft mission over Tokyo. Torrey volunteered to fly the mission. Over the target, this Hellcat was intercepted and shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed at Habu village near Narita. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Wreckage This aircraft crashed into a school house, killing Torrey in the crash. After the crash, a villager Masa Oto located Torrey's rosary cross in the wreckage. In 1980, she gave the cross to the pilot's son, Phil Torrey visited Habu village. Afterwards, he gave the cross to his sister, Barbara. Recovery of Remains Postwar, a team from American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) recovered his remains and after identification were transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials Torrey was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After the recovery of remains, he was buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at section OSA site 14. Relatives Phil Torrey (son) "In 1980, son Phil visited Habu village where his father's plane crashed. In 1996, a villager named Masa Oto returned a rosary cross that he had found at the crash site, that he gave to his sister, Barbara Torrey Smith. Barbara Dillon (daughter)." References Navy Serial Number Search Results - F6F-5 Hellcat 71445 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List February 1945 - F6F-5 Hellcat 71445 VF-9 Website website removed as of December 2005 FindAGrave - Philip Huston Torrey, Jr (photos, grave photo) Thanks to Barbara Dillon 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 December 19, 2021 |
 F6F  MIA 1 Missing Resolved |
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