[R Leonard]

From VR-13 War Diary for January 1945:

“15 Jan 1945
Routine scheduled operations. R4D aircraft, Bureau Number 17234, plane commander Lieut Birdwell “J” McKnight, USNR, crashed at Tacloban Airstrip, Leyte, P.I. Crew of 3 officers and 2 enlisted personnel, plus 16 passengers, killed instantly. Board of investigation ordered by ComFleet AirWingTEN. Apparent cause of accident result of small training aircraft crashing into the tail surface of aircraft, Bureau Number 17234. List of crew members and passengers killed is attached hereto as Appendix (C).”

Appendix (C) reads:

“CREW
Lieutenant Birdwell “J” McKNIGHT, S(A1), USNR (98309) - Plane Commander
Lieutenant Donald W. HUEGEL, (A1)L, USNR (121480) – Co-Pilot
Lieutenant George A. DANNER A-V(S), USNR (210182) – Navigator
James R. REYNOLDS, Sp(V)3c, USNR (896 57 67) – Orderly
Hugh G. BALLENTINE, ARM1c, USNR, (662 51 62) – Radioman

“PASSENGERS
Lieutenant Commander C. H. MATTSON – 245536
Lieutenant Commander G. W. PEASE – 84642
Lieutenant E. J. DETMER –
Lieutenant Winfield V. SCOTT, Jr., S(A), USNR – 199555
Ensign M. L. NAYLOR – 325691
Ensign N. J. ROCCAFORTE – 350662
G. M. PANGALOS, PhM1c – 7060999
F. HOLD, SK1c – 3713347
A.D. NONSLEY, PhM2c – 8725647
O. F. BLIZZARD, PhM2c – 8329602
J. B. HAYDEN, PhM2c – 8726837
H. E. DICKINSON, PhM3c – 7265117
J. C. RAINES, PhM3c – 3128674
W. E. SEELING, PhM3c – 7109468
S. D. STROUL, PhM3c – 8233002
M. M. KING, ARM3c – 8372586”

No mention of the pilot or any passengers in the other plane. A little sleuthing yielded more for LT DETMER: DETMER, Edward J, DV(G), USNR (126666). And LCDR MATTSON was MATTSON, Carl H, MCV(S), USNR; LCDR PEASE was PEASE, George W, IV(S), USNR; ENS ROCCAFORTE was ROCCAFORTE, Nicholas J, A1, USNR, a VT-18 pilot. I did not have anything on ENS NAYLOR until I figured out that he was actually NAYLON, Maurice L Jr, ENS, A1 USNR, out of VF-31.

Best I can do.

Rich