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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-25 VMR-153 |
Pilot Major E. Megson, O-6812 USMCR (KIA, BR) CT Crew 2nd Lt. John M. Talbot, O-35121 USMC (KIA, BR) MN Crew Sgt Philip Greenberg, 373185 USMC (KIA, BR) Crew Cpl Joseph M. Mendelsohn, 527010, USMCR (KIA, BR) Crew Pfc John J. Keniery, 805165, USMCR (KIA, BR) Passenger Cpl Alfred Francis Glass, USMC (KIA, BR) Passenger Cpl Wilmer Kenneth Schmoyer, USMC (KIA, BR) PA Passenger Captain Charles J. Shaeffer, USMC (KIA, BR) Muskingum County, OH Passenger Cpl Russell William Somerville, USMC (KIA, BR) NJ Passenger Pfc Donovan Eugene Walton, USMC (KIA, BR) ND Passenger ? (KIA, BR) Passenger ? (KIA, BR) Passenger ? (KIA, BR) Passenger ? (KIA, BR) Passenger ? (KIA, BR) Crashed July 12, 1944 at 1:00pm Aircraft History Built by Douglas. Constructors Number 12778. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as C-47A-15-DK Skytrain serial number 42-108893. On May 9, 1942 assigned to the U.S. Navy (USN) as R4D-5 bureau number 17180. Wartime History Assigned to the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) to Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 25 (MAG-25), Marine Utility Squadron 153 (VMJ-153). No known nickname, nose art or squadron number. Mission History On July 12, 1944 took off piloted by Major E. Megson on a flight with fifteen aboard. Around 1:00pm, this aircraft crashed into Maru Peak near Sandy Beach on the southeast tip of Guadalcanal. Everyone aboard was killed in the crash. Recovery of Remains Afterwards, the remains of the crew and passengers were recovered. Seven could not be individually identified and were buried in a group burial. Postwar, transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew and passengers were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Megson is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section Q site 1037. He also has a memorial marker at Old Church Cemetery in South Glastonbury, CT. Talbot is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section Q site 482. Keniery is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section Q site 58. Seven including Greenburg, Glass, Mendelsohn, Schmoyer, Shaeffer, Somerville and Walton are buried in a group burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 82 site 154. Schmoyer also has a memorial marker at Neffs Union Cemetery in Neffs, PA at plot VIII site 592. Shaeffer also has a memorial marker at Woodlawn Cemetery in Zanesville, OH in the Soldiers Section. Walton also has a memorial marker at North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, ND at section B, site 42. The other five passengers are unknown and presumed to be buried in their hometowns in the United States. References Note, on July 20, 1944 after this crash, Marine Utility Squadron 153 (VMJ-153) was renamed Marine Transport Squadron 153 (VMR-153) and the latter appears in records related to this crash. USAF Serial Number Search Results - C-47A-15-DK Skytrain 42-108893 "108893 (MSN 12778) to Navy as R4D-5 BuNo 17180" Navy Serial Number Search Results - R4D-5 17180 "17180 (MSN 12778) ex USAAF 42-108893" USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List July 1944 - R4D-5 17180 NARA Marine Transport Squadron 153 (VMR-153) July 1944 page 12 (Page 12) " 12 July, 1944. The following named men, while flying and [sic] R4D5 type aircraft (Bureau No. 17180), were lost at the southeast tip of Guadalcanal (Maru Peak, Sandy Beach, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands at approximately 1300 LST." FindAGrave - Maj Edward H Megson (photo, grave) FindAGrave - Maj Edward Heywood Megson (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2LT John M Talbot (grave photo) FindAGrave - SGT Philip Greenberg (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Joseph Meyer Mendelsohn (group burial photo) FindAGrave - PFC John J Keniery (grave photo) FindAGrave - CPL Alfred Francis Glass (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Wilmer Kenneth Schmoyer (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Wilmer K Schmoyer (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Charles J Shaeffer (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Charles Galloway Shaeffer (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - CPL Russell William Somerville (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Donovan Eugene Walton (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Donovan Eugene Walton (memorial marker photo) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated April 28, 2023 |
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