USN/USMC losses - Tinian - 30 July 1944

[Leendert]

Day report of the USS Tennessee (BB-43) of 30 July 1944 says that its observation plane was seen to have a mid-air with 'a shore artillery spotting plane'

Tennessee plane was OS2N-1 Kingfisher BuNo 01304 with Ens. Jacques Gordon (and not Genice as in most loss databeses...) and ARM2c William J. Herren (and not Herron as in War Diary of ship). Both killed.

I wonder if the shore based plane was USMC OY-1 BuNo 60504 of VMO-4 with Lt. John A. Cameron and Lt. William C. Jones? Their bodies were found a few days later.

Thanks for any info.

Regards,
Leendert

[RSwank]

I think it is highly likely. The War Diary of VMO-4 on July 30 says:
"Lt. J. A. Cameron and observer. Lt. W. C. Jones failed to return from an early morning flight. There airplane was later sighted on enemy land half-burnt. On the second of August, marines reached the airplane. They were buried in the marine cemetery, Tinian."

The war diary of the USS Tennessee states that on July 30 at 07:21 they observed the collision of their observation plane with a shore based artillery spotting plane. Both planes crashed and burned in enemy territory.

[Leendert]

A belated thanks for looking into this as well.

Regards,
Leendert