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| USN VPB-119  USN August 1946 |
Pilot Lt. Cmdr. John F. Curran, O-086193 (KIA, BR) Bandon, OR Crew Lt. Cmdr. Edgille V. Hall, O-123383 (KIA, BR) Weeksbury, KY Crew AMM1c James F. Cox (KIA, BR) Dalhart, TX Crew AMM1c R. C. Rifing (KIA, BR) Crew AMM2c Leonard R. Davis (KIA) Centreville, VA Crew AMM2c P. Pigapoulos (KIA, BR) Crew AOM2c Harold Lee Woodard (KIA, BR) CA Crew Arm3c D. E. McLellian (KIA, BR) Crew AMM2c Robert Henry Meyer (KIA, BR) Vincennes, KY Crew AOM1c Thomas E. Deaust (KIA, BR) Macon, GA Crashed July 30, 1946 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego as Model 32. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PB4Y-2 Privateer Bureau Number 59750. Wartime History Assigned to Patrol Bombing Squadron 119 (VPB-119). No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On July 30, 1946 took off from NAS Sangley Point piloted by Lt. Cmdr. John F. Curran on a search mission for a missing PBM Mariner and C-47 Skytrian. When this aircraft failed to return it was declared missing. Wreckage On August 6, 1946 the crash site was located by searching PBM Mariner crashed into a steep slope on the western side of Mindoro at an elevation of 4,300'. Recovery of Remains After the crash site was located, the remains of the crew were recovered and transported to Manila and buried at the USAF Mausoleum #1 at Manila American Cemetery. Later, the remains of eight of the crew were transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. Curran is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot L Row 8 Grave 46. Hall is buried at Manila American Cemetery at Plot L Row 12 Grave 98. He also has a memorial marker at Lucy Hall Cemetery in McDowell, KY. Meyer and Davis were buried on August 11, 1949 in a group burial at Camp Nelson National Cemetery in Nicholasville, KY. Cox is buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Houston, TX. Woodard is bured at Manila American Cemetery at Plot D Row 11 Grave 207. Deaust is buried at Rose Hill Cemetery in Macon, GA. The other crew members are presumed to be buried in private cemeteries in their hometowns in the United States. Relatives John Ladd adds: "My father, Lt. Cdr. John F Curran, was attached to VBP-119 on Oct 23, 1945 and served as a PB4Y pilot until his death in the crash of his PB4Y on July 30 on Central Mindoro Island. I have pictures of his crash site, supplied to me by the army photographer who identified the crash site several weeks later (the hull number was visible). My dad and his crew were searching for a downed C-47 and hit a mountain." References Navy Serial Number Search Results - PB4Y-2 Privateer 59750 "59750 (VP-119) crashed on Mindonoro, Philippines Jul 30, 1946 during search for missing PBM and C-47. 10 killed." U.S. Patrol Squadrons - VP-119 Mishap (photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John Francis Curran FindAGrave - John Francis Curran (photo, grave photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edgille V. Hall FindAGrave - LtCdr Edgille Voorheis Hall (photo, tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Edgille V Hall (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - James Fenwick Cox (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - R. C. Rifing FindAGrave - Leonard Rogers Davis (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - P. Pigapoulos American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Harold L. Woodard FindAGrave - AOM2 Harold Lee Woodard (grave) FindAGrave - D. E. McLellian FindAGrave - Robert Henry Meyer (grave photo) FindAGrave - Thomas Edward Deaust (grave photo) Thanks to John Ladd 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 March 31, 2023 |
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