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| USMC USS Gilbert Islands (CVE-107) MCAG-2 VMF-512  USN c1944  USMC c1945 |
Pilot 2nd Lt. Logan Millard White, Jr., O-31359 USMCR (MIA / KIA, BR) Macon, GA Crashed June 8, 1945 at 7:15am Aircraft History Built by Goodyear Aircraft Corporation in Akron, Ohio as a license built Vought-Sikorsky Model V-166B F4U-1D Corsair. Constructors Number 2911. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as FG-1D Corsair bureau number 87913. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to Marine Air Wing 114 (MAW-114), Marine Carrier Air Group 2 (MCAG-2), Marine Fighting Squadron 512 (VMF-512). During March 1945 loaded aboard USS Gilbert Islands (CVE-107). No known squadron number, nickname or nose art. When lost, engine serial number unknown. Armed with six .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown. Mission History On June 8, 1945 took off from USS Gilbert Islands (CVE-107) piloted by 2nd Lt. Logan Millard White, Jr. on a strike mission over Iriomote Jima. Over the bay on the west coast of the island near Funauki (Funauke, Funaki, Hunauke) the formation spotted five or six camouflaged ships 100' to 150' in length and performed strafing attacks. Over Funauki (Funauke, Funaki, Hunauke), this Corsair was observed to go into violent spin and dove into the sea at 7:15am. The cause of the crash was unknown. Although no anti-aircraft fire was observed in the vicinity, it was the opinion his loss was due to enemy fire. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Several different positions are listed for White's loss, all are general locates and not the exact location: "VMF-512 Major Blaine H. Baesler, Commanding Officer (C. O.) VMF(CVS)-512, Muster Roll entry: "Lat. 24° 20' E; Long. 122° 41' N" This coordinate is in the open sea between Iriomote Jima and Formosa (Taiwan). Also, Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) [no number] list the "position of the crash was given as being at latitude 24° 20' E., longitude 122° 41' N." [this coordinate is in the open sea between Iriomote Jima and Formosa (Taiwan). Search Afterwards, other Corsairs in the formation searched from the air and observed small pieces of the plane but no trace of the pilot nor was any anti-aircraft fire observed. Wreckage In fact, Japanese anti-aircraft fire from the Japanese Navy base at Funauki crashed into the sea off the Ryuku Pearl Company to the north of the base. Recovery of Remains After the crash, a leg washed ashore on the nearby beach named Kui no hama and was buried by the Japanese. After the end of the Pacific War, an American Lieutenant named "Machius" or "Matius" visited the area leading a work party to cut down trees for lumber and told the community his younger brother was shot down over Iriomote Jima and might have been a relative of White. Postwar, a team from American Graves Registration Service (AGRS) visited an isolated burial on Iriomote Jima at approximately Lat 123° 47' E Long 24° 17' N [this coordinate is likely incorrect, it is the southern coast of the island]. The exhumed the remains were designated as unknown X-196 (X-File 196). On August 5, 1947 the recovered remains were buried at USAF Cemetery on Okinawa at grave 759, row 24, plot 1. Identified as White based on markings on the grave, date, comparison of dental records as White. During the middle of 1948, his grave was exhumed and his transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials White was officially declared dead the day of the mission. After the recovery of his remains, White's remains were returned to Wells Funeral Home before he was permanently buried at Bon-A-Venture Cemetery Old in West Canton, NC. He was buried at the same time as his brother, S1c Charles Dupree White, 9713827, USN who died and was buried in England. Relatives Logan Millard White, Sr. (father) Are you a relative of Logan Millard White, Jr.? Contact Us. References USMC Casualty Card - Logan Millard White, Jr. Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) - Logan Millard White, Jr. Navy Serial Number Search Results - FG-1D Corsair 87913 "87913 shot down Jun 8, 1945" USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List June 1945 - FG Corsair 87913 incorrectly listed the loss as Ie Shima [sic] VMF-512 Action Report June 8, 1945 "At 0740, 8 June 1945, while engaged in strafing barges at Iriomote Island, the F4U-1D piloted by 2nd Lt. Logan M. White USMCR went into a violent spin and dove into the water. Small pieces of the plane were seen to fly from the plane but no AA was observed in the vicinity. The opinion that the accident was caused by enemy AA fire is unverified." NARA "USS Gilbert Islands CVE-107 War Diary 29 November 1943 to 2 September 1945" page 28 (Page 28) "On 8 June [1945], Second Lieutenant Logan Millard White, Jr. U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, in an F4U [sic FG], was shot down over the target." NARA "USS Gilbert Islands CVE-107 War Diary June 1945" page 4 (Page 4) "Five of six camouflaged ships in the bay on the west coast of Iriomote Shima, estimated 100 to 150 feet in length, were strafed and left burning and emitting much black smoke. One F4U-1D [sic FG-1D] airplane, piloted by 2nd Lt. Logan Millard White, Jr. 031359, USMCR, was reported shot down over the target." NARA State Summary War Casualties [North Carolina] page 22 "White, Logan Millard, Jr. 1st Lieutenant, USMCR, parents Mr. and Mrs. Logan M. White, Sr. 16 N. Main St., Canton." Japanese National Diet Library microfilm Legal Section 3722 (LS-3722) GHQ Investigation Division Number 2592 (Inv. Div. No. 2592) 19 June 1947 "FG-1D #87913 crash offshore at Iriomote Islands, Sakishima Islands, Ryukyu Islands on 8 June 1945" Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) [no number] created circa 1947 by Graves Registration, 8th Army "On 8 June 1945, Lieutenant White flying FG-1D aircraft bureau number 87913 participated in a strafing attack on Iriomote Shima, Sakishima Gunto. As it was diving on the target Lieutenant White's plane was seen to do a violent snap roll, go out of control and crash into the water about 75 feet from the beach. Position of the crash was given as being at latitude 24° 20' E., longitude 122° 41' N., the western end of Iriomote Shima." History of Taketomi (1986) pages 766-767 translation by Minoru Kamada "Another [plane] was downed [this aircraft]. Place was off of naval base. It was downed by anti-aircraft machine guns. Afterwards, the leg of the aviator was washed up on the shore. We buried him with American soldiers after. After the war, American soldiers came to the island for cutting lumbers. Skipper was 2nd Lt or Lt(jg) Matius (spelling unknown). Islanders later learned his brother was the aviator who had downed off Iriomote. IKEDA, Toyokichi writes, the plane was splashed near of the office for Ryuku Pearl Company. Place of the Company is north of Funauki. The body was buried at a beach called Kui no hama. Place of the beach is not known yet either. Aviator's brother visited the island to receive his bone." FindAGrave - Lieut Logan M. White, Jr (grave photo) AdamsPlanes.com - VMF-512 "The sorties continued and on June 8 the next loss occurred when 2nd Lt. Logan Millard White, Jr was shot down in his F4U-1D [sic FG-1D] (BuNo 87913) and killed." Aviation Safety Network - ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 81999 FG-1D Corsair 87913 Maj. Baesler's [VMF-512 C. O.] Muster Roll entry states: "KIA at approximately 0715, 8Jun45, at Iriomote Shima, Sakishima Islands: Lat.24°20' N; Long.122°41' E [this coordinate is in the open sea between Iriomote Jima and Formosa (Taiwan)]; Body not recovered." The entry in the Action Report is: "At 0740, 8 June 1945, while engaged in strafing barges at Iriomote Island, the F4U-1D piloted by 2nd Lt. Logan M. White USMCR went into a violent spin and dove into the water. Small pieces of the plane were seen to fly from the plane but no AA was observed in the vicinity. The opinion that the accident was caused by enemy AA fire is unverified." Thanks to Yukari Akatsuka and Minoru Kamada 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 May 8, 2023 |
 FG  Map 1945  MIA 1 Missing Resolved |
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