SNJ bureau number 26458 (Palmyra, Feb. 25, 1943
Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 8:06 pm
SNJ bureau number 26458
SNJ bureau number 26458 was involved in a mid air collision with a F4F-4 in the Palmyra/Line Island area on 25 February 1943. My father’s cousin, PFC George A Burlingame Jr (USMCR) was riding in the rear gunner’s seat. The pilot, Lt Bruce Ffoulkes, survived by bailing out, George was lost with the SNJ. George’s body and the aircraft were never recovered. These data and information were obtained from reports, muster roles and similar documents I have obtained from the Military Personnel Records Center (St Louis, Mo), the USMC History Division, MCB Quantico and various web sites. [As a point of reference, Lt Ffoulkes went on to fly with VMF-213 (8/43-11/43) and then on to VMF-214. He was KIA on 12/23/43 in pursuit of a Japanese Zero over Raboul (USMC History Division documentation).]
However there is one important item missing (Palmyra was a rear, not front line base at this time and I am assuming this was a training accident and not combat related). Both reports provide no information on the F4F that collided with the SNJ or the pilot of this aircraft.
I am hopeful that there is information that may exist and provide additional documented details of the accident between the SNJ and F4F-4 such as pilot and bureau number.
SNJ bureau number 26458 was involved in a mid air collision with a F4F-4 in the Palmyra/Line Island area on 25 February 1943. My father’s cousin, PFC George A Burlingame Jr (USMCR) was riding in the rear gunner’s seat. The pilot, Lt Bruce Ffoulkes, survived by bailing out, George was lost with the SNJ. George’s body and the aircraft were never recovered. These data and information were obtained from reports, muster roles and similar documents I have obtained from the Military Personnel Records Center (St Louis, Mo), the USMC History Division, MCB Quantico and various web sites. [As a point of reference, Lt Ffoulkes went on to fly with VMF-213 (8/43-11/43) and then on to VMF-214. He was KIA on 12/23/43 in pursuit of a Japanese Zero over Raboul (USMC History Division documentation).]
However there is one important item missing (Palmyra was a rear, not front line base at this time and I am assuming this was a training accident and not combat related). Both reports provide no information on the F4F that collided with the SNJ or the pilot of this aircraft.
I am hopeful that there is information that may exist and provide additional documented details of the accident between the SNJ and F4F-4 such as pilot and bureau number.