Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Bellevue, Kentucky
Honored By
Bellevue Veterans Club
DIED: MAY 18 1943. LOCATION: ROUTINE PATROL OUT OF NAVAL AIR STATION ADAK, ALASKA. CAUSE: THIS PBY-5A FAILED TO RETURN FROM A ROUTINE PATROL OUT OF ADAK, ALASKA. NO MESSAGES WERE RECEIVED AFTER TAKE-OFF AND THE ARMY HAD NO TRACK ON RADAR OF A PLANE IN THE SECTOR ASSIGNED TO THIS PLANE FOR SEARCH. WEATHER AT TIME OF TAKE-OFF WAS COMPLETE DARKNESS, CEILING 600 FEET, VISIBILITY SEVEN MILES WITH FOG PATCHES NEAR THE FIELD AND OBSCURING THE SURROUNDING MOUNTAINS AND PEAKS IN THE SECTOR. IT IS THE OPINION OF THE REPORTING OFFICER THAT THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A MOUNTAIN BEFORE REACHING ITS SECTOR WHILE PILOT WAS FLYING ON INSTRUMENTS.