http://loyceedeen.webstarts.com/uploads/GoingHome.mp4 Loyce Edward Deen, an Aviation Machinist Mate 2nd Class, USNR, was a gunner on a TBM Avenger. On November 5, 1944, Deen's squadron participated in a raid on Manila where his plane was hit multiple times by anti-aircraft fire while attacking a Japanese cruiser. Deen was killed. The Avenger's pilot, Lt Robert Cosgrove, managed to return to his carrier, the USS Essex. Both Deen and the plane had been shot up so badly that it was decided to leave him in it. It is the only time in U.S. Navy history (and probably U.S. military history) that an aviator was buried in his aircraft after being killed in action.[video]http://loyceedeen.webstarts.com/uploads/GoingHome.mp4[/video]
wow...epic and sad...his wounds must have been horriffic...I saw a corpsman take his fingerprints after they covered the cockpit..here is a little more info: http://www.visionandvalues.org/2015/05/memorial-day-remembering-loyce-deen-of-altus-oklahoma/
I guess I would say that the death of Ensign Jessie Brown USN was similar...in that the navy pilots napalmed the wreckage of his aircraft with his body in to prevent mutilation by North Korean troops https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_L._Brown
Thanks for bringing this back. I assumed nobody was interested in WW2 events. I only saw them taking his prints due to you mentioning that. Thanks a lot. The last link must be broken but the top link works fine
Interesting story of him and Hudner who got the Medal of Honor for trying to rescue Brown. Then the story of Peterson whom became a Lt. General officer who had joined due to the story of Brown's fatal crash. Brown's final words was to tell Daisy he loved her. The napalm was dropped 2 days past the crash. Korea is where our military transitioned from the prop plane to the Jet. I once was a friend to a then Marine Major who flew missions in Korea. When I got my draft notice in 1961. Bill gave me counsel. Also a retired Navy Commander did to as well. Bill then was still actively flying Marine fighter jets.
There used to be a lengthy first person document by Legg about his experience in the QM history section but I can't find it anywhere THIS WEEK IN QM HISTORY 3 - 9 JUNE 1944 The Normandy Invasion began with a massive bombing raid and naval bombardment along the French coast, followed by an aerial assault by paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions just behind enemy lines. One of the many units supporting the 82nd Airborne was the 4th Platoon, 603rd Quartermaster Graves Registration Company. Instead of going in a day or two later, as originally planned, one young Graves Registration specialist – Sergeant Elbert Legg – volunteered to cross the English Channel in a British made Horsa glider and join the assault on D-Day, 6 June 1944. Eerie silence marked most of their journey, over the water, the coastline, past German defenses, the infamous French hedgerows, to the clearing beyond. His glider ("Number 32") was cut loose and down she went, crash-landing in an open field. Discovering he was OK, Sergeant Legg wasted no time setting up a collection point, and immediately began receiving the dead. More bodies followed. Then more. By the end of the first week nearly 350 American soldiers had been buried in the temporary cemetery at Blosville. Nearly 6,000 by the end of June.
