In Memoriam
In Memoriam
On 19 Mar 1944 during the third CVE 21 USS Block Island combat cruise the following casualties occurred when a TBF took anti-aircraft fire from submarine U-1059 and crashed.
Lt. (jg) Norman T. Dowty, pilot
Edgar W. Burton, ARM 1/c, radioman
When the CVE 21 USS Block Island was torpedoed six men were lost. The demise of these shipmates depressed everyone although each man was thankful that the casualties in so great a disaster were so few:
James O'Neil Franks, COX, USNR
James Peter Kibash, MM3c, USNR
Petert Tych, S1c, USN-1
Henry Alfred Meyer, EM2c, USNR
James ByrelL Owen, AMM1C, USNR
John J. Schlinker, S1c, USNR
Six fighting planes were in the air at the time their carrier was destroyed. Having nowhere to land, they flew to the nearest islands. Only two of the planes made successful landings although when setting their planes down on Portugal possessions, they knew the reception would not be cordial. They were rescued as soon as possible by planes from Casablanca. To the four aviators of the “Fighting Block Island” who were lost, we make a final salute:
Lt. Robert P. Buell, USNR
Lt. (jg) Julian L. Pitts, USNR
Lt. (jg) Robert W. Wyatt, USNR
Ensign Robert E. Innis, USNR
Fifteen other men were injured and taken to the U.S. Naval Base Hospital at Casablanca, where they recovered and most of them returned to active duty.
The DE 576 USS Barr was damaged by a torpedo in the same action. As a result of this damage the following 17 crew members lost their lives:
James Adams
Carl Bennett
Meredeth Brady
Carl Burdett
Robert Cook
Thomas Ellis
Michael Gorchyca
Gordon Haynes
David Jenkins
Clyde Johnson
Phillips Marion
Leland McCabe
William Roddy
James Rouse
James Simmons, Jr.
Jessie Strong
Thomas Williams
Many of our shipmates have died since the end of WWII by other causes and they are surely missed. At this time the Association wishes to list on the website only those shipmates who were lost in action while serving on the two carriers and the destroyer escort DE USS Barr which was heavily damaged while serving along side CVE 21 when it was sunk.
During the Pacific Ocean air activities, flying from the deck of CVE 106, the following US Marine Corps pilots and aircrew personnel lost their lives:
Sgt. Joseph L Butehorn, USMCR, VTMB-233
S/Sgt. Ben Davis Cannon, USMC, VTMB-233
PFC Joseph Cordova, USMC, CASD-1
2nd Lt. Raymond DeLaughder, pilot, USMC,
VTMB-233
2nd Lt. Goldberg, pilot, USMCR, VMF-511
Sgt. Edward Gunning, USMCR, VTMB-233
2nd Lt. Robert Haire ,pilot, USMC, VMF-511
Lt. Harold Harmer ,pilot, USMCR, VMF-511
2nd Lt. Charles Harris ,pilot, USMCR, VMF-511
2nd Lt. Douglas Herrin ,pilot, USMCR, VTMB-233
Sgt. Gunter Hunrichs, USMCR, VTMB-233
2nd Lt. Albert Jones, pilot, USMCR, VMF-511
Major Robert Maze, pilot, USMC, VMF-511
2nd Lt. Jack Marconi ,pilot, USMCR, VTMB-233
T/Sgt. James Miles, USMC, VTMB-233
Sgt. Felix Pawlowski, USMCR, VTMB-233
PFC Eugene Shute, USMCR, VTMB-233
S/Sgt. Joe Survoy, USMC, VTMB-233
T/Sgt. John D. Sykes, Jr., USMC, CASD-1
Major Robert Vaupell ,pilot, USMC, VTMB-233