This video is from April 14, 1945 aboard the USS Block Island (CVE-106). It features shots of pilots and crew members from VMTB-233. These men include (in order) Northart, Lt. Hunter, Supancik, Leach, Lt. Zernikow, Leger, Sgt. Edward Gunning, Lt. Douglas Herrin, and Sgt. Joseph L. Butehorn. This last crew in this video was later killed in an attack against Nobara airfield, Miyako Island on 10 May, 1945. They were in the last position to bomb the airfield. It was not noticed that their plane was missing until after the squadron was over the water returning to their ship. Fighter planes went searching, but did not locate them. No radio communications from them were received.
Sadly, the last crew shown here (at 6:47) - Sgt. Edward Gunning, Lt. Douglas Herrin, and Sgt. Joseph L. Butehorn were listed as "missing in action" after making the last rocket run on Nobara Airfield on May 10, 1945. The plane was last seen smoking and at low altitude.
These were among the first Marine Squadrons to operate from Escort Carriers in the Pacific theater during WW2. There were four Escort Carriers that started this new program:
CVE-106 USS Block Island with squadrons VMTB-233 and VMF-511
CVE-107 USS Gilbert Islands with squadrons VMTB-143 and VMF-512
CVE-109 USS Cape Gloucester with squadrons VMTB-132 and VMF-351
CVE-111 USS Vella Gulf with squadrons VMTB-234 and VMF-513
More of these WW2 Carrier based training and operations videos will be found at channel @VMTB143Mike. I will be uploading new videos of the Squadron, ship training and combat experience over time.
These films are from the collections of the USMC History Division and are digitized and physically preserved through a partnership with the University of South Carolina. These films, and much more, can be found at digital.library.sc.edu.
#WW2FighterPilotTraining #WW2History #WW2AircraftCarrier #WW2Color
3 мар 2024
