Pacific Wrecks - SBD-2 Dauntless Bureau Number 2130

Missing In Action (MIA)

Prisoners Of War (POW)

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Chronology

SBD-2 Dauntless Bureau Number 2130

USN
USS Lexington (CV-2)
VS-2

Pilot Ensign Joseph P. Johnson, O-099894 USNR (MIA / KIA) CO
Gunner ? (MIA / KIA)
MIA March 10, 1942

Aircraft History
Built by Douglas at El Segundo. Constructors Number 653. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-2 Dauntless bureau number 2130.

Wartime History
Assigned to USS Lexington (CV-2) to Scouting Squadrons 2 (VS-2). No known tail code or markings.

Mission History
On March 10, 1942 after 8:10am took off from the USS Lexington CV-2 piloted by Ensign Joseph P. Johnson armed with a single 500 pound bomb and two 100 pound wing bombs on a dive bombing mission against Lae. The formation few northward over New Guinea climbing to 16,000' over the Owen Stanley Range before reaching the target area. Lae. At 9:22am over Lae, the SBD Dauntless begin dive bombing runs against Japanese ships in the Huon Gulf off Lae. Over the target, hit by anti-aircraft and observed to crash into the Huon Gulf.

Memorials
The crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. Johnson earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Johnson also has a memorial marker at Fort Logan National Cemetery at section MA, site 14.

References
Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-2 Dauntless 2130
USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List March 1942 - SBD-2 2130 location listed as Salamaua [sic Lae]
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph P. Johnson
FindAGrave - Ens Joseph P Johnson (tablets of the missing)
FindAGrave - Joseph Philip Johnson (memorial marker photo)
The First Team (1984) page 129

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Last Updated
March 10, 2021

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