Japan Returns Remains of Crashed F4U Corsair to U.S.

[4RG.I.'S]

A touching story. It would be very fitting to have this back on the Intrepid as a memorial. Found the story here:

http://www.ww2aero.com/japan-returns-re ... ir-to-u-s/

[Mark Allen M]

Thanks for posting this. A big salute.

"The aircraft launched from the USS Intrepid on on March 18, 1945, along with 18 other Corsairs, to target a naval air base on the island of Kyushu.
Serving with Fighter Squadron (VF) 10 “Grim Reapers” the Corsair suffered damage during the attack and was forced to ditch in the waters off Saiki, where it sank."

[Richard W.]

Magnificent gesture on the part of the Japanese.

Hasn't the pilot of this a/c that day been determined?

[Zac Yates]

Great photos Mark, it's eerie to see "in the heat of the battle" images.

It looks like it was a very touching and respectful ceremony. Kudos to everyone involved.

[Jim MacDonald]

Two VF-10 pilots were lost in the area on that date.

Ens. Loren S. Isley, 402823. He was presumed to be hit by AA, failed to pull out of his dive & crashed into the harbor at "Saeki", Kyushu.

Ens. Robinson W. Harris, 407310, was hit by by AA at "Saeki" & ditched in Bungo Suido Straight on the way back to the carrier. He was seen in the water, but was not recovered.

The Gungo Channel is also near Saiki.

https://www.google.co.jp/maps/place/Bungo+Channel/@33.1956053,131.8164636,96816m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x3545c871604fedcf:0x4c86913e8e7d9563

Mac

[Richard W.]

Thanks, Mac.

RIP to both those guys.

[Rob Mears]

Of critical note is that SURVIVING F4U-1D, BuNo.82640 was flying as part of VF-10 'Grim Reapers' at the same time, and taking part in these same combat missions I would presume. It was assigned to VF-10 from January - April 1945 during some of the most active months of combat.

This VF-10 survivor is now being restored to fly at Warbird Adventures Aviation Museum in Mareeba, Australia.

[Rob Mears]

Wow, I just realized that my uncle Lt. Earl Wendell Langston also took part on the Kyushu strikes that same day (flying F4U-1D, BuNo.82614, so the photos above would seem to show some of the damaged inflicted by his flight, which was part of VMF-221 (arrow tail) squadron flying from the USS Bunker Hill!

Thanks again for the amazing photos Mark!

Here's my uncle's log book entry...

[Elwyn]

Nice gesture but I'm a little surprised such minimal wreckage was even saved.

[John Dupre]

This makes me ask has there ever been much of a wreck hunters tradition in Japan? Some of the outer islands aren't that populated. I am thinking of the crash of a SB2C on a mountain where the gunner survived the crash and evaded capture until the war ended. Always wondered if that wreck was ever found or surveyed.

[Chris Brame]

Sounds like a very interesting story, John - I didn't know any fliers managed to evade capture in Japan. Any more info on the guy?

[camshaw]

a buddy during the viet nam war traveled all around the japanese islands in the sea bees transporting goods and delivering green stuff that makes a soldier happy in smoke if you know what I mean...lol....anyways, he swore he knew of a place that had a couple mustangs and a few Japanese fighters that had been piled together and pushed into a forest out there and that was in the early 70s....he gave me the name of the town and what it was close to, but who knows if the dude was stoned or telling the truth, he still swears its not a story....

[DaveM2]

a buddy during the viet nam war traveled all around the japanese islands in the sea bees transporting goods and delivering green stuff that makes a soldier happy in smoke if you know what I mean...lol....anyways, he swore he knew of a place that had a couple mustangs and a few Japanese fighters that had been piled together and pushed into a forest out there and that was in the early 70s....he gave me the name of the town and what it was close to, but who knows if the dude was stoned or telling the truth, he still swears its not a story....

Well PM me the name and I will see if my Japanese colleagues can make some inquiries...