US crew captured Norway 14 April 1942

[Brian]

Hi guys

I have been reading some 'old' posts on the Norway WW2 Forum, and came across an enquiry as follows:

On 14 April 1942, a US aircraft identified/noted by the Germans as a 'Cheasepeake' (presumably an SB2U Vindicator) ditched near a fishing boat off the Southern Norwegian coast at Skudenes. The two-man crew (a Lt and a WOP) were rescued and handed over to the Germans. The posting decided that the aircraft must have originated from the USS 'Wasp', which had arrived in UK waters to undertake a Spitfire delivery to the beleagured island of Malta.

What is the story behind the Norwegian incident?

Cheers
Brian

[Mark E Horan]

Brian;

USS Wasp (CV-7), having disembarked most of her airgroup to HMS Sparrowhawk (RNAS Hatston), departed Scapa flow on 9 April 1942 bound for the Clyde, and arrived at Greenock on 10 April. On 13 April she loaded 47 RAF Spitfires at King George Dick, Glasgow and then, on 14 April she departed heading South for the Mediterranean.

With those facts in mind, the aircraft in question could not have come from Wasp herself, as the only USN aircraft retained aboard were F4F-4 fighter planes for defensive patrols.

While it is possible that a USN crew was lost flying from Hatston, my fairly detailed loss records for the Wasp Air Group do not indicate any USN plane was lost operating from there. It is worth noting, however, that Wasp's USN aircrew did fly numerous RN aircraft while at Hatston, as well as numerous training exercises in their own aircraft. It was during this period that the Wasp airgroup became familier, in a "first-hand" fashion, with the FAA night strike doctrine that they proceeded to indoctrinate themselves with and, ultimately, carried to the Pacific Fleet with them.

Mark E. Horan

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Brian and Mark,

The detail on the 'Norwegian incident' is new to me and it would be interesting to learn more if possible.

I have a photocopied set of the USN/USMC aircraft write-offs outside the USA during WW2. Naturally much of it is difficult or impossible to read, especially the Vicdicator page ! However it records a SB2U-2 lost on April 15th. This was BuNo 1364 of VS-71, USS Wasp. The location given was 'England' and the pilot was Lt.(jg) John ?. ????? (possibly John K or F Brown ???).

Three other SB2Us were lost by VS-71 in the 'England' area during this deployment;
BuNo 0762 ??? (if correct this is a SB2U-1). Lost 27 March 1942. Pilot was Ensign Edwin S. ?????? ( '?etwey' maybe).
BuNo 1363 (SB2U-2), lost 23 (?) April 1942, pilot Ensign Jackson.
BuNo 1370 (SB2U-2), lost 5 May 1942, pilot 'James F. Thompson(?)'.

Sorry about all of the question marks but it really is hard to decipher. Hope this helps anyway.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

From the AAIR Website.
27th March 1942
VF-71 SB2U Bu Nr. 1362 ENS. Edwin S. Petway
15th April 1942
VF-71 SB2U Bu Nr. 1364 Lt Jg John F. Dunn - Off Greenock.
23rd April 1942
VF-71 SB2U Bu Nr. 1363 ENS. Jackson - Off Malta.
BUT Crashed on Allt on Tor Scotland en route Tain to Inverness according to J Baughers web pages.
30th April 1942
VF-71 F4F4 Bu Nr 5101 ENS P.T. Jorgensen - Off Malta
5th May 1942
VF-71 SB2U Bu Nr. 1370 ENS. James F. Thompson.

Alex

[atckyrre]

Since I am from the area in question I find this very intriguing. Unfortunately I don't have anything to add.

Could it be that the aircraft in question really was a Chesapeake flown by a US crew?
Chesapeake only in the sense that it just had been handed over to the FAA coming off the Wasp?

[Brian]

Hi guys

Fascinating stuff!

From the above excellent responses it would seem that SB2U Bu Nr. 1364 Lt Jg John F. Dunn (and WOP/AG), is the favourite. Presumably, since they were handed over to the Germans, their names will appear on a POW list somewhere.

Cheers
Brian

[paulmcmillan]

Dunno if it helps but I have a American "Lieutenant JE Dunn", aged 27, of 66 Oberlin Road, Hamden, Connecticut in Stalag Luft 3, November 1942

[Leendert]

RM2 (Radioman 2nd Class) Roderick D. Scattergood comes out as the only US Navy man to be captured by the Germans on 14 April 1942.
At least, presuming that I set the parameters right on the aad.archives.gov website.

Scattergood was held in German POW camps near the Baltic Sea.

Our missing second crew member?

Regards,

Leendert
Brugge/Belgium

[Brian]

Hi Paul and Leendert

It looks even more feasible that these two were the crew of the aircraft in question. Great work guys.

Cheers
Brian

[Leendert]

Brian,

LTJG John E. Dunn from Georgia (Navy serial 082354) was taken POW on 14-4-1942 as well, according aad.archives.gov.

Record says that he was indeed held at Stalag Luft 3.

As it happened, possible other POW Scattergood was from Georgia too.

Regards,

Leendert