WIX Archives
Palau F4U-1D BuNo.57807 crash site discovered (story link)
Posted by Rob Mears on Mon Nov 25, 2002 02:24:12 AM
In reply top null posted by null on null
...taken from BentProp.org
"In summary, we now know the following. On 18APR02, with the help of our guide Elechong, the P-MAN IV team located and identified the crash site of a USMC Corsair, BuNo 57807, flown by LT James Misley from Mt. Shasta, CA, who was shot down by enemy anti-aircraft fire on 10 March 45 and crashed into the jungles of Babeldaob in Ngatpang State.
Based on interviews I have had with members of VMF-122 both before and after the expedition, I have been able to assemble some additional information about that day. According to COL Gene Morrison, USMC (Ret), who flew on the same mission that day, LT Misley was leading his (two-plane) section with Major FE Pierce along the east side of Babeldaob, while then-LT Morrison was flying on the west side with his wing man. LT Misley spotted something, possibly a large anti-aircraft gun, in the jungle to the west of his position. COL ?Mo? Morrison remembers LT Misley as an excellent and aggressive pilot. So it was not unexpected that LT Misley immediately banked and dove toward this now-exposed enemy position. What he could not have known was that he was diving on the jungle headquarters of LTGEN Inoue Sadae, the hills around which were studded with numerous AAA sites.
COL Morrison remembers seeing Misley?s Corsair pull out after the dive, followed by a stall, falling over onto his left wing into the jungle-covered hills. He saw no explosion."
