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| USMC MAW-1 MAG-24 VMSB-244 "Bombing Banshees" |
Pilot Captain John Allan Anderson, O-013523 (MIA / KIA) MN Gunner SSgt Carmine D. Faella, 385653 (MIA / KIA) NJ MIA May 17, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 3508. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-5 Dauntless bureau number 28161. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SoPAC) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the United States Marine Corps (USMC), Marine Air Wing 1 (MAW-1), Marine Air Group 24 (MAG-24), Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 244 (VMSB-244) "Bombing Banshees". Squadron Number A-12, call sign 32. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On May 17, 1944 took off from Nissan Airfield (Green Island Airfield) piloted by Captain John A. Anderson armed with a 1,000 pound bomb with a fuse set for .01 second delay on a bombing mission against Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. This was the squadron's first strike of their third tour of duty, led by Captain Richard Belyen. The formation included forty-two SBD Dauntless dive bombers from VMSB-244 and VMSB-236 escorted by four fighters. The weather enroute was .4 cumulus clouds with a base at 3,000' and top at 5,000'. Over the target the weather was clear with scattered cumulus clouds .2 coverage. After rendezvous over Cape Saint George at 11,500' and proceeded to the target. Over Rabaul, the dive bombers made a high speed approach from the northwest at 15,000', with the dive bombing run started from 7,500' and bomb release at 2,800' and pullout at 1,200'. The SBDs also strafed the target area during their dives with their .50 caliber machine guns and .30 caliber rear guns. During the attack, moderate to intense anti-aircraft fire with varying degrees of accuracy was experienced. During the dive bombing run, this SBD claimed a bomb hit on the runway at Vunakanau Airfield. Returning, this SBD was seen to crash into the Warangoi River area roughly four and a half miles from the mouth of the river. Last seen upside down and burning. When this aircraft failed to return the crew were declared Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The crew were officially declared dead on May 18, 1945. Both are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Anderson earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Faella earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - SBD-5 Dauntless 28161 USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List May 1944 - SBD-5 28161 NARA VMSB-244 War Diary May 1944 page 5 (Page 5) "Captain John A. Anderson and radio-gunner Staff Sergeant Carmine "D" Faella are missing in action. The plane which Anderson was piloting crashed approximately four and one half miles from Tobera Airfield into the Warengoi River. Survival is possible due to the fact that both occupants knew they were going in and probably prepared for the crash-landing. The plane hit the trees and Anderson attempted to land in the river itself. Last seen the plane was upside down and burning." COMAIRSOLS Strike Command-Green SBD Intelligence 17 May 1944 pages 9-10 (page 9) "Damage to Planes: Plane #A-12, BuNo. 28161, failed to return. [this aircraft] "Personnel Casualties: Captain John A. Anderson pilot of plane A-12 and his gunner Staff Sergeant Carmine "D" Faella are MIA. ** The plane was seen to crash into the Warengoi River [sic] about four and one half miles from the mouth." (page 10) "Mission Log: [Plane No.] A12 [Pilot] Anderson [Gunner] Faella [Squadron] 244 [Call Sign] 32 [Remarks] Confirmed hit on R/W; failed to return" American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John Allan Anderson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Carmine D. Faella FIndAGrave - Capt John Allan Anderson (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - SSgt Carmine D Faella (photo, telegraph, tablets of the missing photo) Ebay "Lot of WWII letters & telegram KIA gunner with USMC VMSB 244 from New Jersey" 361287158990 sold on May 10, 2015 for $155.49 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated January 25, 2024 |
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